New signing Peter Ramage's early header gave Barnsley a 1-0 victory at their former manager Keith Hill's Rochdale.
Conor Hourihane saw an injury-time penalty saved by the Reds were far better than in previous matches and ended their five-game winless run to go out of the relegation zone.
Danny Wilson made three changes to the team that was thumped 3-0 at home to Swindon and employed a 4-5-1 formation. Ramage, who signed on loan from Crystal Palace the previous day, started in central defence in place of Jean Yves M'voto who was not on the bench. Kane Hemmings dropped to the bench as did Joe Dudgeon with Lewin Nyatanga moving across to left-back and Martin Cranie dropping back alongside Ramage.
Keith Treacy and Devante Cole played on the wings either side of a midfield three of Luke Berry, James Bailey and Conor Hourihane. Former Barnsley players Matty Done and Stephen Dawson started for Dale.
The Reds got the perfect start when Ramage headed in Hourihane's left wing corner ten minutes into his second debut.
There were then a succession of one-on-one chances as home 'keeper Conrad Logan denied Cole and Hourihane either side of a splendid save by Ross Turnbull, diving a full stretch to tip wide an effort from Peter Vincenti.
Rochdale came out fighting early in the second half and captain Cranie – the only Hill signing still at Oakwell – saved off the line from his former Barnsley team-mate Done following a goalmouth scramble. Cole almost doubled the lead on 69 minutes when he showed superb pace to reach a Nyatanga pass but Logan once again smothered the effort. Cole then twice came in from the left wing and squared the ball to Winnall who first sliced badly wide then saw a second deflected off target by defender Jack O'Connell.
Cole's injury-time bursting run was ended by O'Connell and the Reds were given a penalty which Hourihane took but Logan pulled off a fine save. Barnsley still held on to win.
