Rochdale 0, Wycombe 1.

WANDERERS made it a Magnificent Seven away games without defeat as they kept another one of their main promotion rivals at bay.

They launched a determined rearguard action to grimly cling onto Leon Knight's 14th minute opener and give their promotion chances a huge shot in the arm.

Wycombe's football wouldn't have won too many prizes in a beauty contest, and at times it was something of a white knuckle ride, but this is the time of the season when points are much more important than plaudits.

On a heavy pitch, against opponents who took a deserved victory at Adams Park just over a month ago, this was always a day for leaving the frills at home and getting the job done and Wycombe did just that.

Wanderers were forced to make one change with Matt Bloomfield coming in for Gary Holt who was suffering with a virus.

But they alsmost got off to a dream start as Dale, who have won just four times on home soil this season, could have been staring down the barrel of another Spotland setback inside the first minute when Marcus Holness let Craig Woodman's clearance slip under his foot.

The Dale defender didn't bother to give chase but Blues top scorer Scott McGleish did and only a point-blank save from keeper James Spencer prevented his shot from a tight angle nestling in the back of the net.

Wycombe had an early let off at the other end as well when Ben Muirhead headed back across goal but no black and white shirted attacker could profit.

Wanderers were keen to pump the ball forward at every opportunity but it was from a move of real quality that they opened the scoring on 14 minutes.

Neil Lennon switched the play across the park to Russell Martin. He played a one-two on the edge of the box with McGleish before teasing the ball through to Leon Knight whose low finish beat Spencer on his near post.

Blues had a let-off off on 29 minutes though when Sergio Torres, who was given the bird from home fans following an earlier dive, conceded a free kick right on the edge of the box.

Rene Howe slammed it goalwards and Blues needed two painful ricochets, the last off the head off Matt Bloomfield to survive.

Frank Fielding's goal came under serious threat again when skipper David McCracken allowed Will Buckley to beat him on his outside but Buckley's low shot squirted just wide of the far post.

Wanderers battened down the hatches even firmer at half time with the introduction of Mike Williamson for Torres.

Leon Johnson shuffled across to left back to accommodate his arrival with Woodman moving into midfield.

Rochdale weren't slow in making their changes either with Kallum Higginbotham and Adam Le Fondre introduced on 51 minutes.

And Le Fondre should have scored with his first touch, blazing over Fielding's goal when clean through within seconds of coming in.

The hosts pinned Wycombe back and tempers frayed on and off the pitch with even the normally undemonstrative Paul Lambert losing his cool on the Wycombe bench with the officials.

Wycombe's midfield enforcer Tommy Doherty was walking a tightrope after his early second half booking.

And he went close to seeing red with a foul outside his box which earned the former Bristol City and QPR man a stern talking to.

With the Doc unable to throw himself into his normal challenges Rochdale set up camp in the Wycombe half and Gary Jones thought he had rewarded the home side's pressure with a low shot which flew just wide.

Wanderers had to dig in and they did working as a team to protect Fielding's goal, reducing the hosts to only a handful of clear-cut chances chances as they spent almost the entire second period in their own half.

And with eight minutes remaining they had another escape as Le Fondre sent another effort wide of the target.

But just when Blues thought they had done their job the fourth official held up the board saying there would be four minutes injury time to play as well.

It was all hands to the pump again but Wanderers ate up the time and held on celebrate a massive victory.