Facing ten men in the second half Rochdale left disappointed at not taking all three points with them.
After shaping up so sharply before the break, they lost their way as Rovers hitting back almost snatched a winner.
Rovers saw their captain and centre-back Adam Barrett sent off under the two-booking rule in added on time of the first period.
Having to cover for him improved Rovers. They sacrificed their disappointing striker Junior Agogo to send on Kevin Austin to make up the back four.
They added an edge to their game and with Christian Edwards, a summer signing from Oxford, again outstanding in defence Rochdale's attack was blunted.
Rochdale arrived on the back of five yellow cards from their opening game with Yeovil, but was soon sinned against as Rovers picked up two cautions in the first 16 minutes.
Each time the victim was New Zealander Leo Bertos, hauled down by Barrett and minutes later by Ijah Anderson as he looked like breaking through on the right.
The worst was still to come for Rovers. When Rochdale's on-loan striker Chris Shuker was almost in the same spot where Bertos had been fouled twice Barrett caught him with a late tackle.
Although his two fouls never really amounted to a dismissal, a second yellow card was automatically upgraded to red.
The opening half belonged to Alan Buckley's side. Their drilled precision left Rovers snatching at their game as a dozen kicks were given against them.
For all their enterprising look and approach, however, Rochdale were not producing shots on goal.
Rovers were hardly any better, but the lively Paul Tait tested Matthew Gilks midway through the half.
Seizing a midfield pass from Dave Savage, Tait took time to get the ball under control and onto his right foot, but then drew a full-length dive from the keeper.
Besides sending on Austin, the home side also brought on their upper two subs as the second half wore on to keep their game fresh.
They almost snatched the win in the 89th minute, when Tait's low header from a corner was scooped one-handed off the line by Gilks and Rob Quinn's follow-up shot flashed over the bar with the keeper still on the ground.