Rochdale missed a great opportunity to close in on the play-off places as skipper Gary Jones fired over from the penalty spot in the dying seconds in their home clash against Bristol Rovers.
After a first half in which the visitors had hit the woodwork through midfielder Craig Disley and striker Jamie Forrester, looking suspiciously offside, had been denied by Dale keeper Matt Gilks, the home side took control.
Rochdale spent virtually the whole of the second half encamped in and around the Bristol penalty area, but failed to hit the target with a series of efforts.
They were awarded a controversial penalty in stoppage time when defender Steve Elliott was adjudged to have fouled Grant Holt, but skipper Gary Jones blazed over from 12 yards.
Still in stoppage time the home side should have wrapped up the points, but substituteTaiwo Atieno somehow failed to connect with a Holt cross two yards from goal with an empty net in front of him.