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"We have to start games brighter and sharper, with more tempo and urgency and put more pressure on the opponent in possession," he said after watching his own Hartlepool side draw with Walsall.

So on Saturday, Pool took the game to the opposition from the whistle and Adam Boyd's fierce shot put itself into early contention for the goal of the season gong.

A plethora of good chances followed, but a second goal wouldn't come at Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium. It was a shame the equaliser didn't arrive because Pool's second-half display merited it.

Equaliser in the second half? How about the first half?

Well that was all that Scott didn't want. He's sick of watching the proverbial game of two halves.

This time around it was worse than the opening period against Walsall, as they were fortunate not to concede a penalty after seconds and conceded two by the 18th minute.

In the first period on Saturday, Pool played like strangers and failed to take possession as Huddersfield did to Pool exactly what Pool did to so many teams on home turf in the previous two seasons.

Their quick passing, leggy movement and powerful running was from a gameplan stolen from Victoria Park.

Now, with Scunthorpe at Pool this afternoon, Scott's side have to find it again because five points from as many games is far from what was expected.

No-one takes any notice of the league table at this stage, but sixth bottom doesn't make satisfying viewing for the team who have made their base camp in the upper echelons of the table in recent years.

On the back of Boyd's spectacular strike - he turned Nathan Clarke 25 yards out and angled his shot into the top corner - Pool found their feet and their normal game.

Peter Jackson's side, who ended last season strongly with a victory at Victoria Park among their run, were on the back foot, desperately killing time and waiting for the whistle.

But the chances couldn't be converted and Pool returned home pointless.

Scott refused to talk to the press after the game and gagged his players from doing the same on the back of last week's front page headlines brought about by Boyd's late night antics.

Actions speak louder than words, or so they say, and that was certainly the case with Boyd.

His half-time arrival sparked Pool into life and no-one else in a black shirt on Saturday could have scored a goal like his.

His 50th goal for his home-town club is probably number two on his list, bettered only by his hat-trick goal against Sheffield Wednesday last season.

In the first half, Pool were content to fire the ball long, hoping to find Jon Daly and it didn't work. They gave away possession too easily and Huddersfield were good enough to take advantage.

With Boyd and the ever-willing Michael Proctor up front, Pool started passing the ball forward, using the midfield to probe and create openings.

Pool fell one-down when a long ball from right back Andy Holdsworth sailed over the head of Neill Collins and Pawel Abbott got away.

Dimi Konstantopoulos took up position inside his six yard area and showed the striker where to find the net for his sixth goal in as many games.

Number two came from another long ball forward.

This time a free-kick was chipped into the area, Konstantopoulos saved, but couldn't keep hold and eventually Danny Schofield skirted the ball around the busy six yard box into the net.

The goal in front of the away fans was the busiest - it was there Pool made all their pressing.

Sweeney, playing with more freedom, sent an angled chip across goal, Proctor's eight-yard volley only found the back of Micky Nelson and the striker then sent a volley low towards Paul Rabchuka after Boyd's leveller.

The scorer was denied a second by Rabchuka's legs, after spinning away and shooting low.

Sweeney shot on the turn and was blocked, then Ritchie Humphreys picked out the keeper after being given time to select his shot.

At the other end, Konstantopoulos made a couple of stops to halt the Terriers on breakaways.

Scott's message at 2.50pm today will be simple: "We have to start brighter and sharper, with more tempo and urgency.''

But hasn't he said that before?

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