Never have so many Geordies rooted for Aston Villa. Keeping an eye on Liverpool's 1-1 against Villa certainly makes a change to seeing how Burnley, Norwich City and Watford got on.
However, just as Eddie Howe did not get caught up in results elsewhere during last season's relegation battle, the same has been true of the race for the top four a year on. Measured Newcastle United have simply focused on the task at hand, the next game, throughout this remarkable campaign and it is a mentality that has served them well.
Yes, Dan Burn was well-aware that 'people thought we would tail off towards the end of the season and fall away', but obsessing over how Liverpool got on? That was a different matter entirely.
