McIlroy's side is going through it's worst goal famine since the mid-Twenties.

But he failed to criticise the team after picking up their first European Championship qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw against Ukraine at Windsor Park.

"I sent my team out to win the game and tried to be positive,'' said McIlroy.

"I would have loved to have got something out of the game and to do that you need to score.

"But everyone can see we haven't got someone to get the goals at the moment.

"Michael Hughes perhaps should have done better when he had a chance but he was caught in two minds.

"That could be due to the fact that he hasn't played much this season."

With a defensive crisis on his hands, McIlroy drafted in midfielders Steve Lomas and Kevin Horlock at right and left-back.

They both did well out of position and McIlroy was delighted with the overall commitment of his side.

'Many chances'

"I thought our effort was excellent and I couldn't fault them for the work they put in," he said.

"There is a lot of young players in the team and that gives me hope for the future.

"They gave me everything against the side who are ranked much higher than us in the world."

Ukraine coach Leonid Buryak said: "We did well but I was disappointed with some parts of our game.

''We came here looking for a win and I know we can do better.

"Many chances were lost as many of my players still did not fill their objectives."