Stockport County leap-frogged over Brentford in the Second Division relegation zone after winning their second game in a row 2-0 at Griffin Park.
However, both teams remain deep in trouble in the dreaded drop zone, staring relegation in the face.
It was the home side who started the brighter, and Danny Adams was forced to clear a Kevin O'Conner header off the line following a short corner routine involving skipper Michael Dobson and Tony Rougier with 17 minutes gone.
The first period turned into a bit of a stalemate which was almost broken just past the half-hour mark after another left wing Dobson corner, but Rougier's header was too high.
McIlroy's side did not have a shot in the first period, while also finding it increasingly hard to cope with the pace and trickery of Steve Hunt on the left flank. And, three minutes before half-time, another Dobson corner created yet more havoc in the visiting penalty area, only Matt Somner to head off target with Anthony Williams stranded in no man's land.
The Bees continued to dominate following the break, but fell behind after 56 minutes when Somner handled Stuart Barlow's volley, and Rickie Lambert stroked home the resultant penalty.
And, despite hitting the crossbar through two Ben May headers and seeing Williams deny the striker with an excellent point-blank save, the visitors broke away five minutes from time to end the game as a contest thanks to substitute Chris Williams' sensational individual effort.
After the full-time whistle, Wally Downes' blamed his side's defeat on a combination of "bad luck and poor finishing," while McIlroy admitted that "we rode our luck a bit and our keeper made a good few saves."