The Latics have now gone without a win in 10 games and held their own with the League One table toppers Brighton. As well as they played, they still couldn't find the net that their build up play deserved.
Barnes scored the decisive single goal that won the match mid-way through the second half in an incident that was controversial. The linesman failed to give an offside decision and he was left to score.
Dale Stephens was unlucky when he struck a superb shot from 25 yards and Filipe Morais fired wide after Brighton defender Marcos Painter escaped punishment when he handballed in the box. When the luck isn't going your way, these things happen.
The home side pushed hard for an equaliser with Cedric Evina and Kieran Lee both going close.