You have missed my point - whilst I went with optimism, I didn't think we would "stuff" them! Mid table or not, going to St James's Park and giving them a hiding was never expected to be easy.
Not that many thought we would go and stuff Newcastle at theirs back in 79 to get promotion. Villa have nothing to win but pride. We have a chance to win the greatest league trophy we have ever had a real decent chance of winning.