For the home side, an afternoon that started full of raw emotion with the players, staff and fans paying tribute to Paul Conway, the sports scientist who died suddenly in the week, turned into one of frustration as Wycombe completely shut up shop, having got their noses in front after 31 minutes.
Wycombe actually started the brighter, forcing four early corners, but Rochdale seemed to be getting the measure of them as Scott Shearer was forced into an excellent save to deny Adam Le Fondre on 21 minutes and Chris Dagnall saw his effort roll agonisingly wide six minutes later.
In truth, the game was decided on 31 minutes when Mike Williamson was allowed a free header from a corner and, although home keeper Sam Russell did well to block, the ball was not cleared and Chris Zebroski's mis-hit shot found the net from 11 yards.
Just before the break, Rochdale skipper Gary Jones was unlucky to see his volley go straight at the visiting keeper but, after half-time, chances virtually dried up.
Wycombe sat deeper and deeper with no real attempt to get forward and the home side, who were so full of goals last season, never looked like breaching them.
Dagnall miscued a free header after a flick by the lively Le Fondre and Adam Rundle fired wide after a good run, but that was that as far as efforts on goal went.
It may not be pretty but Peter Taylor, the former England caretaker manager, has certainly found an effective way to win games as far as Wycombe are concerned.