The Shrimps manager believes that, despite defeat, his side put in one of their best displays for some time.

"I thought we played some lovely stuff and I felt we deserved something from the game.

"I'm proud of my lads. The effort and commitment all over the park was superb and we can take a lot of positives from how we played.

"The players were flat in the dressing room. But I told them to get their music on. They had nothing to be ashamed of. We now have to pick ourselves up for the visit to Notts County."

The Shrimps return to the bread and butter of League Two out to continue a three-match unbeaten run which has seen them net five points from nine to climb further from trouble.

Their hosts tomorrow are one place above on goal difference, both sides boasting the same record of W3 D9 L6.

The Magpies have won once in the league at Meadow Lane this season in nine attempts and McIlroy will be hoping his side can take advantage of that run.

The Magpies have dropped away alarmingly after an 11-match unbeaten run anf they have lost five of their last six in the league.

McParland sent left-winger Lewis Neal back to Preston this week after a month on loan, with top scorer Richard Butcher , who scored in both games against the Shrimps last year, out after suffering a broken foot in an FA Cup draw with non-league Kettering last weekend. The Magpies are also without Matt Hamshaw (Hamstring),  Adam Tann (Knee) and Ben Fairclough (Hamstring).

But on-loan striker Jonathan Forte, with four goals in three games since arriving from Scunthorpe United, will return to the side after being cup-tied.
New loan signing Mitchell Hanson is also set to make his debut after joining on loan from Derby County last week, while Michael Johnson could be involved after returning to training after a two-month layoff with a toe problem.