The Shrimps are unbeaten in seven games in all competitions but their last five matches have all ended in draws.

Morecambe went on to win their Johnstone's Paint Trophy second round clash at Chester on penalties but McIlroy's side need to do the business in 90 minutes at Gillingham this Saturday.

And McIlroy is confident that his side can come out on top after going close in a 2-2 draw with Chesterfield last Saturday.

He said: "We wanted to win against Chesterfield and we thought we did enough to win. We had another great chance to win it but they just seem to be going wide of the post for us at the moment.

"We are still making chances and I just think that once we get a win we will kick on from there. The spirit is fantastic, there is a real never-say-die attitude.

"The League is tighter this year. No-one we have played so far has really set out and said 'we are the team to beat' this year.

"We have just to continue doing our jobs and if we can pick up a couple of wins, we will be right back into the pack.

"We have had so many new players in the side and we wanted to be better placed than where were but it takes some players longer to bed in than others.

"I can see signs that the new players are settling down and hopefully now, we can kick on."

The Shrimps travel to Gillingham on Saturday, the Gills having lost 3-0 at Exeter on Saturday.

McIlroy said: "Gillingham were one of the favourites to go straight back up again and we know it will be another tough game for us.

"We know Mark Stimson from his Stevenage days so we know what to expect from him."

McIlroy will have to assess the fitness of Michael Twiss, who went off early on at Chester, while Danny Adams, Matty Blinkhorn and the returning loanees Michael Carr and Adam Yates were all likely to play for the Reserves on Wednesday.

But one player leaving Christie Park is winger Dan Smith who has returned to Plymouth having failed to make an impact during his month on loan at Christie Park.

McIlroy is still looking to strengthen with Southport winger Mark Duffy a potential signing, following the route of Carl Baker.

McIlroy said: "We are interested in the boy but people have to leave the club first. I have to get people out on loan or people out on permanent deals and I am still working on that."

Teenage striker Aaron Taylor is likely to keep his place in the squad after coming on for his League Two debut last Saturday and setting up Rene Howe's equaliser. The 18-year-old also scored the winning penalty at Chester on Tuesday.