A Man of the Match display from trialist defender Dennis Souza was not enough to prevent The new- look Reds falling to defeat against their Premiership opponents in the only and only pre-season friendly at Oakwell.
Over 4,000 fans turned out to see new signings Kayode Odejayi, Lewin Nyatanga, Rob Kozluk, Andy Johnson, Miguel Mostto, Rohan Rickets and Dominik Werling.
Marciano Bruma missed out with his broken hand.
Wigan though took the spoils firstly through a terrific strike from Wigan new boy Jason Koumas and a bizarre penalty from Denny Landzaat after the ref blew when Koumas' free kick sailed over the bar.
Full Match Report
BARNSLEY: Colgan, Nyatanga, Souza (Atkinson 84), Kozluk (Togwell 65), Johnson (Mattis 73), Mostto (Odejayi 60), Howard, McCann (Devaney 73), Ferenczi (Coulson 84), Ricketts, Werling.
Subs: Letheren.
WIGAN ATHLETIC: Kirkland, Melchiot, Kilbane, Scharner (Brown 73), Boyce, Hall (Bramble 45), Valencia, Landzaat, Heskey, Koumas, Agahowa.
Subs: Cotterill, Pollitt, Camara, Montrose, Granquist, Cwyka, Moore.