Aston Villa are closer to Derby than we are to Middlesbrough and Man United are about the same distance from Bradford. "Local rivals" is just about bearable but it's one of those rivalries that seems to cut just one way.

Mind, putting another nail in Tel's Smoggie coffin would still be nice....

Casting a glance two divisions below is interesting. Of course, unlike the 
mackems we've never tumbled that far (despite Ossie Ardiles' best efforts).

The four teams that currently occupy the relegation places have all done 
one thing that the Toon haven't managed in my lifetime - won a cup at Wembley.

Swindon, Oxford and Luton have all won  the League Cup, while Swansea held aloft the Autoglass Trophy in 1994. A sobering thought as they slip further.

Niall Mackenzie