To make matters worse Rochdale conceded a goal nine minutes later when a shot from John Finnigan out on the right was stopped by goalkeeper Matthew Gilks, but the goalkeeper could not hold on and the ball spilled to Damian Spencer who turned it into the net.
Up to this point, and even with only ten men, Rochdale looked capable of getting on the scoresheet with the energetic Grant Holt always in the penalty area action, but forever out of luck, made the Cheltenham defence tremble more than a little.
Cheltenham had their first-half moments too with Kayode Odejayi causing one or two flutters in the home defence and Spencer constantly on the prowl looking for another.
Rochdale's moment of respite came in the second-half when Rickie Lambert did 'a Beckham' and curled the ball into the corner of the net past the clutching right hand of goalkeeper Shane Higgs.
Higgs' work was not yet done as Rochdale went all out for a winner with their depleted front row down to the one-man frontline of Holt.
Several times Holt went close, and several times he was thwarted by Higgs.
There were fun and games at the other end to, and substitute Steve Guinan should have had a couple of goals and Grant McCann also went very close. But some splendid keeping by Gilks kept Cheltenham out.