The Shrimps travel to in-form Northampton this Saturday looking for only a fourth win away from Christie Park this season with McIlroy admitting that poor results on the road have hit his side's play-off hopes.

Morecambe have picked up just 16 of their 49 points away from home, a record that has frustrated the Shrimps boss.

Said McIlroy: "Our away form has been shocking and a major reason why we are not in the play-off spots.

"It is something we need to look at because I know we have a squad that is more than capable of challenging for those play-offs. Our home form has been good and it is difficult to pinpoint why we haven't been anywhere near as good away.

"We will have to focus on Saturday at Northampton because they have had a great run lately and will be tough."

One of the reasons for the Shrimps' lack of points away is their inconsistency, something that home fans saw for themselves on Saturday as the Shrimps could only draw with struggling Grimsby despite an excellent first-half performance.

McIlroy said: "The first half was one of our best performances of the season and we showed exactly what we are capable of. We battered them but didn't take our chances and when that happens you are always likely to get caught.

"It was soul destroying that we didn't get the full three points and we must start making sure we play for 90 minutes and not just an hour in games."

On loan Colchester wide man Simon Hackney (above) made a promising debut and set up the goal for Paul Mullin in the first half and the Morecambe boss feels there is more to come from the former Carlisle man.

"He had a great first half but hasn't played a lot of games lately and ran out of steam.

"But he will have benefited from the game and will get stronger over the next few games."

Northampton have won their last four games and beat the Shrimps 4-2 at Christie Park earlier in the season.