The Latics have not won since securing Premier League safety at the end of March, a run of five losses and a draw.

However, they gave Sir Alex Ferguson's champions-elect a real scare at the JJB Stadium on Wednesday, taking the lead and holding out until Michael Carrick scored the winner four minutes from time.

It was the sort of determined performance which has typified Wigan's season and Boyce said the players had taken great encouragement from it.

"We feel we should have got a point from it (the United game) but it's another hard-luck story," he said. "But it shows we are moving in the right direction.

"We have conceded a few goals in the last couple of months, which is not like us compared to how many clean sheets we have had.

"That is disappointing towards the end of the season so these last two games we have to finish on a high so we can look forward to next season."

Wigan will need all of their resilience in Saturday's encounter with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium where the Premier League newcomers have lost only four of their 18 matches.

"Stoke is a completely different game to the one we had against Manchester United - that is the beauty of the Premier League," Boyce told Latics World.

"You have gone from United's attractive football to Stoke, where you know what is going to come, but it will be a test of character.

"We will go into the game full of confidence and hope we can pick up the points.

"We want to finish on a high so we start next season on a high."

Manager Steve Bruce was full of praise for his players after Wednesday's defeat.

The former Manchester United defender has been concerned his side have been coasting towards the end of the season after safeguarding their future for another year.

But he was more than satisfied with the display against his old side and wants that effort replicated in their remaining two fixtures.

"If we play like that the season will not dwindle away," he said.

"I wish we could have had a performance like that two or three weeks ago and got everyone back focused again. That was back to where we should be.

"It is going to be a monumental ask to make sure we get ready for Saturday after they have played like that against United but we will see what we can do.

"Our squad is young and we have made some big changes but if we could finish somewhere near the top 10 it would be a fabulous achievement for a club like ours.

"If we had been offered that at the start of the season we would have taken it."

On Wednesday striker Hugo Rodallega, a £4.5million January signing from Mexican club Necaxa, scored in his second successive match after going 11 appearances without a goal.

Bruce praised the Colombian for the progress he has made, saying: "He was terrific. He came of age against United.

"He knows what it is about now and I am sure he will be a great asset for the club.

"I was really pleased with his ability to mix it with Nemanja Vidic. He showed courage. It was there for everyone to see."