Ian Henderson’s fourth minute strike proved to be the difference in Dale's 1-0 victory over Charlton Athletic at the Crown Oil Arena.
The Dale skipper’s 99th goal for the club, along with Brendan Moore’s first-half penalty save, was enough to earn all three points.
Keith Hill made three changes to his side, as Ollie Rathbone, Bradden Inman and Sam Hart all returned to the starting line-up.
Dale made a fast start with Joe Rafferty’s curling effort striking the post, before Henderson broke the deadlock after just four minutes.
Stephen Dooley showed quick feet on the right side and sent a low ball across to the Dale skipper, who fired into the bottom corner with a first-time effort.
The visitors sent three efforts off target as they looked for a quick equaliser. Taylor rattled the top of the crossbar from the edge of the area before Jamie Ward and Karlan Grant both missed the target.
Callum Camps’ through ball found Bradden Inman on the left of the area who came back onto his right foot before dragging a shot wide.
Charlton had a golden chance to equalise in the 20th minute when Brendan Moore was deemed to have fouled Darren Pratley inside the area, but the Dale stopper made amends by diving to his right and beating away Taylor’s penalty.
Dale ended the period strongly. Inman saw a sliding effort blocked before Jordan Williams’ turn and shot was well saved by Charlton stopper Jed Steer.
Williams then had a touch from Rafferty’s low cross well saved, from which Inman’s rebound was blocked. Dale recycled the ball and Henderson’s effort was also well blocked.
The visitors created the first efforts of the second-half as Jason Pearce and Taylor both sent efforts off target, before Moore produced a fine fingertip stop from Josh Cullen’s strike.
They had a goal disallowed when a free-kick found its way into the back of the net, only for an offside flag to go against a Charlton man in front of Moore.
Calvin Andrew and David Perkins replaced Williams and Rathbone, shortly before Henderson headed over Sam Hart’s free-kick.
Inman was then denied by Rafferty’s cross to the back post, sending a header straight at Steer, before Hart’s fizzed ball across was a whisker away from being turned home.
The visitors put the pressure on the Dale defence late on, who held strong late on and held on to a deserved clean sheet, and a deserved three points.