United fans are unlikely to have any sympathy for the second city side’s fans after Villa supporters took things one step too far back in 2009 by displaying disrespectful banners to Geordie fans on a fateful day six years ago.
That day supporters in the Holte End unfurled banners reading: “Sob on the Tyne” and “Who’s your next Messiah? Ant or Dec?”.
The Magpies can nudge Villa closer to the Sky Bet Championship with a win that would put a huge 13-point gap between the two teams and leave Remi Garde’s side stranded at the foot of the table.
Despite Villa’s appalling form though, McClaren still feels the fallen top-flight outfit might take time to be broken down.
McClaren told the Chronicle: “This game is one you would want to win in the first 20 minutes.
“But if not, you might have to win it in the last 20 minutes.
“So we have to stay in the game – that means we have to be patient.
“It might not all go our way, but the atmosphere and the crowd are really important to us.
“So we will need them from the first whistle.
“Of course, we need to provide something on the field, but if we can get that spirit around the stadium we have a good chance of winning.”
Newcastle were given no chance against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in their last home outing, and they were massive underdogs against Tottenham when bookmakers offered up odds of 8/1 for an away win at White Hart Late.
McClaren said: “We have to start the game right, but we have talked to the players about being patient and not getting frustrated.
“Expectations are different to the last two weeks, we know that.
“Aston Villa are a good team, they have talented players and good players.
“They can still win games and are very dangerous.
“Away from home they got a good result at Southampton recently by playing counter-attacking football.
“They are dangerous opponents and we have to accept that.
“We just have to make sure our spirit, intensity and focus is right on the day.
“That will give us a chance to win – if it’s not there we are vulnerable.”
And for all the bookies have written off Villa’s hopes of survival already, McClaren still feels they could still stay up – IF they kickstart their season in the festive period.
He said: “I can’t believe they only have six points.
“The performances I have seen recently says to me they are a good team.
“The Premier League is strong, from the top to the bottom. There’s not a great deal of distance.”