MARTIN Scott tonight gets his first taste of North-East derby action in ten years, vowing to make the experience a far happier occasion.

Back in September 1996, Sunderland defender Scott put his side ahead against Newcastle United at Roker Park, before the Wearsiders succumbed to two second half goals.

Now boss of Hartlepool, Scott's side meet Darlington at Victoria Park for the first time since September 2002, when the home team beat Tommy Taylor's Quakers 4-1.

And, after two home games without a win in the early stages of this season, Scott is desperate to secure a safe passage into the second round of the Carling Cup.

"We have to set the momentum in the game,'' he insisted. "Walsall and Bradford both did it to us and we can't allow it to happen again.

"We have players at this club who can run all day, who are as fit as any team, but the slow momentum of the game with Walsall suited them and not us.

"As a group and as a team we have to counteract that by getting the ball down, passing the ball quicker and closing the opposition down a lot better.

"You can't wait until half-time to change the game from the dressing room, you set it out from the off.

"Let's make the opposition worry about our game.''

Pool lost to Bradford on the opening day, before drawing with Walsall at the weekend. Saturday's second half show was more akin to what Scott wants every week, as his side penned the visitors back for long periods.

"We put the onus back on them as the game went on,'' he added. "Then we caused them problems. It wasn't a bad result - we are three games unbeaten.

"OK, we've drawn two of them but, especially at home, you've got to learn to break teams down.''

The sheer nature of tonight's game means a slack start won't come into consideration from either camp.

"I don't think tempo from the start will be a problem,'' admitted Scott.

"It's a derby against our local rivals who we haven't played for a couple of years.

"It's a night game, which always brings a better atmosphere at Victoria Park.

"I'm not going to make changes for changes' sake - my policy is to win every game and that's what I intend to do.

"I'll play the team I think will win the game and if that means making a few changes, then so be it.

"There's no way I will be treating this game differently to any other we play. I don't think our fans will accept me as manager putting a weakened team out to face Darlington in the hope we can scrape through.

"Darlington won on Saturday, they've started the season well and it's a big task for us.

"The North-East is a very passionate footballing area, these games are very passionate and this will be no different.''

Defender Micky Nelson faces Quakers for the first time tonight, but derby encounters are nothing new to the former Bury man.

"We've gone three games unbeaten now and we want to keep this run going," he said.

"I think at Bury we had a derby every other week, there's that many clubs around the Manchester area, derby games were non-stop.

"We managed to get a big game in the cup against Bolton one year, which was a good experience.

"It's been a while since the two clubs have met - that should add a bit of spice to it, so we are all looking forward to it.

"As everyone says, form goes out of the window and it's whoever wants it most on the night.''

l Tonight's game is all-ticket and Pool fans have until 5pm to buy their tickets

Read more about Hartlepool here.