Why Newcastle fans won't shed a tear if Aston Villa go down

This was just one of the 'hilarious' banners on show at Villa Park as Newcastle were relegated

Sunday, 24 May 2009 is a date etched in the memories of most Newcastle United fans.

It was the culmination of a season of mismanagement from owner Mike Ashley and pitiful effort from the club's 'star' players.

Supporters watched on in despair at Villa Park as Newcastle slipped into the Championship after a 1-0 defeat, with the future looking extremely bleak.

Less than three years later though and Magpies fans can now look back on the day as a necessary pill they had to swallow.

The club has undergone three hugely successful seasons since that fateful day, starting with their march to the Championship title and then last season's comfortable mid-table Premier League finish.

This campaign has been beyond most fans' dreams as Newcastle have deservedly fought their way into fifth place with just five games remaining, with a top four finish still a distinct possibility under Alan Pardew.

The pain of the relegation still remains but fans can almost look back on that spring day of 2009 and smile.

Would their club be where it is today without being relegated that day?

Chris Hughton deserves much of the credit for the success the club has had since then, as his calm and sensible management the following season allowed the club to bounce back to the top-flight at the first attempt.

Big-name players and high earners like Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Geremi and Damien Duff were among those to jump ship in the aftermath of relegation and the club was a lot better for it.

A season in the Championship allowed the likes of Fabricio Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez, Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique to blossom and settle, and all have left a lasting impression on the club.

Coloccini and Gutierrez continue to shine in black-and-white, Nolan contributed goals aplenty including a hat-trick against the club's bitter rivals Sunderland, Carroll eventually departed and left the club £35million richer and Enrique developed into one of the best left-backs Newcastle has seen, certainly in the last 20 years.

There were many other success stories in that Championship campaign and that has continued over the last two seasons with new stars who have thrived on Tyneside.

Relegation may have been less than three years ago but Newcastle fans have had so much reason to celebrate since then that it seems a lot longer ago.

It's ironic that the club who sent Newcastle down on that sunny day in May should find themselves in a similar situation three seasons later.

Aston Villa's fanbase has seemed disgruntled all season, and understandably so given the newly-stringent ownership of Randy Lerner and unpopular management of Alex McLeish.

McLeish has endured a disappointing first season at Villa Park

Attendances at Villa Park have dwindled and big-name players haven't performed, which has forced the club into a relegation battle.

Villa are currently six points above the drop zone with five games remaining, but should still have enough to survive.

However, if they were to go down, you wouldn't find too many tears for them on Tyneside.

Football fans have long memories and Newcastle fans certainly haven't forgotten how their relegation was celebrated by Villa fans in 2009.

They revelled in Newcastle's demise and came prepared for the game with banners including "Who's your next Messiah, Ant or Dec?" and "Sob on the Tyne".

Of course, most sets of supporters make the most of it when their team sends another down, but not many go to the trouble of preparing banners and celebrating in the way Villa fans did that day.

It would have been understandable if the clubs had been long-term rivals (which Villa and Newcastle weren't), but their taunts and 'banter' crossed the line.

However, things have changed dramatically since then and it is now Villa who find themselves battling relegation while Newcastle are the side in the top six of the Premier League, as Villa were that day.

The Toon Army's tears certainly flowed at Villa Park in 2009 but since then they have had a lot more to smile about than their Villa counterparts.

Ironically, Newcastle's success since relegation should show Villa that going down can mark the start of a new beginning.

It could be exactly what the club needs.

It would allow the likes of Gary Gardner, Marc Albrighton and Ciaran Clark to shine and gain confidence in the same way Newcastle's relegation did for Carroll et al.

The likes of Gardner could benefit from a season in the Championship

Villa fans are unlikely to see it that way though and will be desperate for their team to survive - which they should - but they won't be getting any sympathy from Newcastle supporters if they do drop into the Championship.

Magpies assistant manager John Carver this week described the reaction of Villa fans to Newcastle's relegation as "outrageous", and the Toon Army certainly had their chance to gain revenge and laugh at their counterparts when their side thumped Villa 6-0 last season.

Among the chants at St James' Park that day was "You're not laughing anymore" but that won't have been the end of the matter for many and it would give some real pleasure to see Villa fans suffer in the same way they did.

As a whole, Aston Villa is a great club and most of their supporters are loyal and fair, but the actions of some of their support in May 2009 have not been forgotten.

It would be sad to see a club of their stature languishing in the Championship but they had very little sympathy for Newcastle when they lost their place in the Premier League so shouldn't expect any now if they are to suffer the same fate.

Villa's next two fixtures - at home against Sunderland and Bolton - will be crucial in their attempt to remain a Premier League club and they should get enough from those games to see them safe.

If they do fail though, they would find themselves in exactly the same position Newcastle fell into three years ago.

It's doubtful Norwich fans would goad them on the final day in the same way Villa did to Newcastle in 2009 but Toon Army supporters at Everton on the same day would ensure they revelled in it.

That would be Karma personified.