Nicky Shorey: Newcastle's demise shows how well Aston Villa have done

May 26 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

“It’s a tough division, there’s no doubt about it, and the two seasons that Villa have had in a row now just shows how good a club it is.

“It’s such a hard place to get wins, you only have to ask Newcastle to prove that.”

Shorey has a degree of sympathy for Newcastle having been relegated to the Championship with former club Reading a year ago.

But the former England left-back believes the Toon Army have the potential to bounce straight back.

“It’s a gutter,” he said. “There’s nothing you can say to them. Someone’s got to go down and it’s unfortunate it was them. In the last ten minutes, looking at them, I knew that feeling and it’s horrible, knowing there’s not a lot you can do.

“I’m sure with the quality they’ve got with the management, team and the fans they can get straight back up. I don’t want to get into all the ins and outs of it, that’s for them to look at, but you want a club like Newcastle in the top division.

“It’s not going to be easy getting up from the Championship, I know that much, but hopefully they’ll be able to do it.”