SPIRIT and unity goes a long way in football and Hartlepool United's caretaker boss Martin Scott has no doubt his squad has it in abundance.

Scott takes his squad to Tranmere tonight with a two goal advantage from the first-leg of the League One play-off semi-final.

A place in the final with Sheffield Wednesday at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, May 28 is within sight.

But Scott knows his side will need all their togetherness at Prenton Park this evening.

Pool's team spirit has been built up during six years of sustained success.

While Newcastle United, beset by internal problems, struggled this season, the camaraderie engineered by Mick McCarthy at Sunderland went a long way to securing the Coca Cola Championship.

That is where Pool hope to be playing their football next season.

First, however, they have to see off a Tranmere side who will doubtless try to take the game to Scott's side from the off.

And that is where Scott is looking to his side's spirit and unity to come to the fore.

"We expect a lot of them both as individuals and as a squad and they know it,'' he said.

"If you look at some squads, they are not together. The successful ones are.

"Look at Chelsea, before and after games the manager and players are together, there is a unity.

"And whatever level you play at, it's vital you get a togetherness on and off the pitch.

"I know the players go out as a squad and with their wives for meals and the like. I know we have a united squad.

"There are going to be difficult times and we had had them and we have came through them because of our spirit.''

Friday's 2-0 victory, courtesy of an Adam Boyd brace, was Pool's first victory in a play-off game in nine outings.

The win arrived thanks to an energetic performance and, while they restricted Tranmere to a single late effort, Scott won't be changing tack tonight.

Scott, with a vital draw at Bournemouth also under his belt after being appointed acting boss, added: "I feel, and I have spoken to Paul Stephenson about it, that it would be wrong to start changing the way we play.

"All last year and this there isn't one game when we can look back and say we went for a point or to avoid defeat - we always try and win it.

"We had a great away record last year and this year we've been tremendous at home.

"That's positive and if we were to start changing now, it would be wrong.

"We are focused on going there to win the game. We know that we will be under massive pressure.

"We went to Bournemouth in similar circumstances and came through it.

"It was a tough, tough task and this is similar. We have done ever so well in the first-half and now we have to carry it on.''

Skipper Micky Barron made a return to the side last week after three months on the sidelines and Scott paid tribute to his skipper.

About to enter his tenth season at Victoria Park, Barron's experience will be important.

He said: "Micky has had a stop-start season but I thought it was vital to bring him back for his experience.

"Tranmere have some very experienced players who have played at high levels of football.

"We haven't played as high as them but we have plenty of experience.

"McAteer and Rankine have been there but the likes of Micky knows all about Hartlepool.

"He knows what is expected of our players and he gets on well with the crowd and his experience is vital.

"On the other side, we've a young lad, Matty Robson, with bags of energy who loves to get forward. He's an excellent prospect and, yes, he needs talking to at times, but what a talent.

"With the likes of Chris Westwood and Micky Nelson in the middle he gives us something else on the left.

"It works well as a balance and we have lots of energy in the side from the young lads.

"I have to rein them in at times but the good thing about it is that I have had these lads for four or five years now so I know what they are all about.

"They will run all day and their energy levels are great. They are totally focused when it comes to being a professional footballer.

"They are not big heads - and there's no-one like that. It wouldn't be allowed to happen. We have a squad who won't allow anyone to get like that.''

After succumbing to two late, heartbreaking goals in last season's play-offs at Bristol City, Pool know all about the unexpected.

But Scott insists his squad will put the Ashton Gate experience to good affect.

He said: "I didn't realise, to be honest, that we hadn't previously won a game in the play-offs, until someone told me on Friday.

"This is our tenth game in the competition. It's great for this club to get in the play-offs so many times.

"We have the experience of last year at Bristol City. Our next aim is to take it a step further and reach the final.

"I'm not saying we are going to reach the Championship, it's going to be a tough, tough task, but we want to go one step further and reach the final.

"We had so much disappointment at Bristol last year but it was a massive experience.

"Once we got on the coach on the way home, it was forgotten about. We had a great season - we overachieved and we have overachieved again.''

Central defenders Nelson and Westwood were impressive in the first-leg and Scott is well aware the pair will have massive roles tonight.

Tranmere could play with three up front - Eugene Dadi may join Iain Hume and Paul Hall - and Scott said: "I've had a quiet chat with both players about what is required.

"When they play well, the team plays well. If they don't play well the team doesn't.

"The last time we played live on Sky, at Huddersfield, we won 2-0, they were outstanding.

"We threw bodies in front of the ball. We did it again on Friday and we need the same.

"The two lads up front - Hume and Hall - have done well. Dadi will be involved, he's a big lad and a problem from set plays.

"We have to defend properly again."

Read more about Hartlepool here.