The Black Cats had looked to be edging away from the danger zone, but on evidence of this game they could be in for a nervy time between now and the end of the season.
This was a clash which the red and whites will have seen as a home banker, but they weren't at the races for long spells in this game and even though the Latics didn't pull up any trees, they had enough about them to take the spoils.
The hosts were certainly out of sorts and seemed to be going through the motions for much of the opening period.
Their lack of urgency was to prove telling, as was their lack of invention in attack and drive from the middle of the park.
It was from a moment of indecision that Athletic managed to break the deadlock.
In a swirling wind no-one among the Wearsiders was able to clear their lines and with the ball bobbling about, Paul Scharner got in ahead of Dean Whitehead to toepoke the ball down to Ben Watson.
The former Crystal Palace man steadied himself before stroking the ball past Marton Fulop and into the net.
Wigan's opener should have been a wake-up call for the Black Cats, but the hosts showed no signs of rousing themselves.
At times Ricky Sbragia's men seemed to be lacking in ideas going forward.
Djibril Cisse did manage to bring two good saves out of Chris Kirkland in the Athletic goal, but by and large this was a tepid display by the Black Cats.
They did however manage to get back on level terms on 40 minutes. The ball dropped invitingly for Grant Leadbitter and he nipped in ahead of Maynor Figueroa before sliding the ball under Kirkland and into the net.
The Wearsiders' joy was short-lived however as once again they were caught napping.
With just two minutes of the first half remaining Wigan hit the Black Cats on the break and restored their lead.
Sunderland were on the attack, but that quickly changed to defence as Kenwyne Jones went down on the edge of the area with a head injury.
Referee Mike Dean failed to stop play and the Latics broke at pace. Charles N'Zogbia ran from inside his own half avoiding attempts by Whitehead and Tal Ben Haim to break into the Sunderland box and fire past Fulop.
The Wearsiders should have heeded the warning signs moments earlier, but Watson had a chance to double both his and Wigan's tally, blazing over from the edge of the 18-yard area.
However, the home side did not make the most of this lucky escape and N'Zogbia was in no mood to be as wasteful as Watson when opportunity came his way.
Sunderland were loudly bood by their own fans as the half came to an end and tried to make amends at the start of the second period.
However, their determination to put things right soon withered away on what was to be a frustrating afternoon for the majority of the 39,266 crowd.
The Wearsiders did manage to find the net twice in the second half, but both Leadbitter and Steed Malbranque were correctly ruled offside.
Apart from that the hosts huffed and puffed, but Kirkland in the Wigan goal was never really tested.
Athletic were hardly great in attack either, but by then they had done their job and comfortably saw out the rest of the half to take all three points.
Sunderland now face a difficult away trip to Manchester City and a similar display to this one could see them dragged even deeper into the mire.