Wanderers took themselves to the top of League Two with a sixth straight victory over Rochdale.

Strikes from the returning Tommy Mooney and his late replacement Jonny Dixon were enough to take the points and maintain the Blues' unbeaten run at Spotland, even if it was more of a test than in previous seasons.

Paul Lambert said. "That's the hardest game we've had all season. We knew how they were going to play and they were a handful up front. But we coped brilliantly and the goal from Tommy was top class."

The manager drafted Tommy Doherty in for his debut after signing him on a three month loan just two days earlier. The Northern Ireland international hasn't played a competitive game since March and the lack of match sharpness was evident with Russell Martin and Matt Bloomfield the players taking the reigns in midfield.

But he did play a part in the best chance of the half for the side just twelve minutes in. A gradual move into the final third which began with his pass to Bloomfield was eventually headed into the arms of Matthew Gilks by Jermaine Easter who did well to flick Kevin Betsy's cross goalwards.

Moments before that summer triallist James Sharp had managed to stick a leg out to block Easter's path to goal after Tommy Mooney had flicked on. The captain had been recalled to the side and was given the freedom of Spotland in the first half, setting up opportunities for Easter on two occasions which the League's leading marksman couldn't quite capitalise on. Almost every header was won by the 35 year old, one of which lead to the opening goal on 16 minutes.

After his flick on caught out the entire Rochdale defence to set Russell Martin on his way, the youngster returned the pass to set Mooney up in the area. Bloomfield held off the covering defenders and Mooney lashed his effort into the roof of the net. Some comeback and one that proved just what the player can bring to the side, despite the win without his services in midweek.

Wycombe were arguably lucky to have 'keeper Ricardo Batista still on the field when he appeared to handle the ball during an out of box collision with Morike Sako. The giant striker, who scored against the club for Torquay last season, was hauled down on the edge of the box when clean through but fortunately for Batista, who's expression suggested he feared the worst, referee Mr Walton deemed it only a bookable offence.

Rochdale hit back with three chances before the break but didn't call the stopper into action on either occasion. Instead it was Bloomfield who acted as the last man by first clearing Mark Jackson's header off the line midway through the half and then blocking Gary Jones' effort after the Dale captain had connected with a neat back heel from Keith Barker. On the half hour mark Chris Dagnall dragged his shot wide after beating the offside trap.

The game became more of a contest in the second half with the awkward front pairing of Sako and Barker making life difficult for the Blues. Sako twice fed on good approach play by his team-mate but Batista was equal to his efforts. It might not have got to the 'heart in mouth' stage though had Easter showed more composure after being released by Will Antwi. With Mooney waiting unmarked in the area, Easter chose to go alone and spooned his shot high into the heavens.

A mazy run from Betsy on 69 minutes saw him test Gilks but for the remaining 30 minutes the game was played predominantly in the middle of the park. In fact there was more action in the Dale stands rather than on the pitch with supporters venting their anger towards the club stewards after a fan had invaded the pitch.

With hopes fast fading for the home side Wanderers took their chance to kill the game off in the final stages and it came through Jonny Dixon, a striker in desperate need of a goal. After spurning a free header moments earlier he made no mistake with a second chance to crash in his first strike since August 2005. He had Betsy to thank as the midfielder dispossessed Nathan Stanton and then teed Dixon up just six yards out.

Lambert added. "It was great for Jonny to score. He tried a few things in midweek which didn't come off but this was a great finish. The goal capped off a fine performance from the lads." 

Wanderers: Batista, Stockley, Antwi, Williamson, Martin, Golbourne, Bloomfield (Anya,75), Doherty (Gregory,53), Betsy, Easter, Mooney (Dixon,85).
Subs not used: Young, Fernandez.
Booked: Batista, Martin.

Rochdale: Gilks, Jackson, Stanton, Sharp, Goodall, Doolan, Crooks (Cooksey,62), Jones, Barker, Sako, Dagnal (Modise,62).
Subs not used: Rundle, Clark, Ramsden.

Attendance: 2313