On-loan goalkeeper Josh Lillis admits it was Rochdale's lofty league position that persuaded him to join Keith Hill's men.
Dale moved to second in League Two with an impressive 4-0 drubbing of league leaders Bournemouth.
Lillis, who joined last week from Scunthorpe on a seven-day emergency loan, insists it was not a difficult decision to take the step down from the Championship club.
He told BBC Radio Manchester: "When I was asked to come to Rochdale I thought 'Top of the league, that's where you want to be in any league.'
"They're a good team, one of the top teams in the division. I played at Notts County last year and played against Rochdale and we got beaten 3-0.
"So I was impressed with them then and I can remember playing against them in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and I was impressed with them then as well."