Marlon King, making a surprise start as transfer talks over a move to Hull City continue, gave Latics an eighth minute lead with a right foot shot from 10 yards.

Emile Heskey added the second after 18 minutes, his low shot from the edge of the box slipping under the body of Barnsley keeper Kyle Letheren.

The best of the three first-half goals arrived in the 26th minute, Daniel de Ridder's lovely cross field pass picking out substitute Antonio Valencia who fired into the roof of the net from the left side of the box.

Latics carried on at the start of the second half where they'd left off in the first, quickly increasing their lead.

In the 48th minute, a shot from Daniel de Ridder was blocked by a Barnsley defender but bounced back, hit the Dutchman on the head and rolled into the net.

Then three minutes later, de Ridder made it 5-0 with a delightful chip from an acute angle after he and Valencia had both had shots parried by Letheren.

De Ridder should have bagged his hat-trick when referee Scott Mathieson pointed to the penalty spot in the 56th minute after Rob Kozluk handled.

But his right-foot low spot kick was saved well by Letheren.

Latics did make it 6-0 four minutes from time, David Cotterill's cross from the left headed home at the back post from close range by Michael Brown.

Lee Cattermole was handed his debut in midfield just hours after completing a £3.5m move from Middlesbrough.

And he put in a commanding performance in midfield before being replaced late on by Cotterill.

Maynor Figueroa also featured after completing a six-month loan move from Olimipa.

The one worry of the night was an ankle injury suffered early in the game by Paul Scharner.

Latics: Pollitt, Melchiot, Scharner, Boyce, Figueroa, de Ridder, Cattermole, Palacios, Kilbane, King, Heskey. Subs: Valencia, Nash, Brown, Camara, Cotterill, Montrose, Kupisz.

Attendance: 3,668