Rochdale picked up their first win of the month as Joe Bunney made it four goals from three games to hand Keith Hill's side a 1-0 victory over Fleetwood.
The result eased fears Dale could be drawn into the relegation battle at the foot of League One, but there was no such respite for the visitors, who remain outside the drop zone on goal difference alone.
The home side edged ahead in the 12th minute when Jim McNulty's delivery from the left found Bunney drifting between two Fleetwood defenders and he slid a neat finish wide of Chris Maxwell in the visitors' goal.
McNulty teed up Bunney for a similar opportunity in the 21st minute but this time the visiting defence cleared off the line. From there on the Cod Army had the better of the first half with Shola Ameobi twice going close and Ashley Hunter narrowly wide just before the interval.
David Syers sent a piledriver inches over the crossbar for Rochdale midway through the second half while Grant Holt, on his return to Spotland after 10 years away from the club, tested Maxwell with a shot to his near post.
Fleetwood went close to a 90th-minute leveller when Wesley Burns sent a header against crossbar but the home side held on for all three points.