The Pirates have long been looked upon as the pools punter's friend but this time were a shade lucky to get away with a point.
Rochdale, who are still harbouring thoughts of the play-offs, had two late chances to win it. Paul Tait, a former Rovers player, failed to make contact in front of an open goal and then Rickie Lambert rocked the bar with a thundering 25-yard drive.
The last four games between these sides had ended all-square and Rochdale set out to break the sequence with a front line of three players. But they failed to use the luck which fell their way.
Early on Rovers keeper Kevin Miller swung a goal clearance straight to Grant Holt's feet. It was a great chance for the Rochdale striker to add to his tally of 21 goals but he was as surprised as the Rovers defence and failed to pick up his gift.
Then midway through the half Rovers central defender Steve Elliott was booked for a foul just outside the box.
It was a good spot for a pop at goal but Alan Goodall sent a wild blast well off target.
Rovers had their chances too. A ball played by James Hunt inside a defender, saw Junior Agogo cut in from the right with a driven shot on the run. Keeper Matthew Gilks pawed that one away with his right hand and Agogo never had another chance.
There was a second scare for Rochdale when Gareth Griffiths misdirected a header back towards Gilks and was grateful to see it hacked off the line.
The running from both sides was eager but there was no quality to the attempted finishes.
Rovers believed the lead was coming their way early in the second half when their Scottish defender John Anderson made contact from a corner. His header was homing in under the angle when Lambert appeared from nowhere to head it out.