Source: Team_Talk
O'Neill eyes win over troubled Toon
But he insists that Villa have their own goals to achieve by winning at Villa Park, notably aiming to finish fifth - one place higher than last season - and overtaking their points tally for the 2007-2008 campaign.
He said: "I certainly don't think we will be laying down our arms. We will be going to try and win the game.
"We have the possibility of finishing fifth and getting more points than last season and those are the rewards we want to try and claim.
"Alan Shearer wouldn't expect any favours from us. We are playing professional football and we will be trying to win.
"The relegation battle is very fascinating and we have been embroiled in it because we have played Hull, Middlesbrough and Newcastle in the last few games.
"But it does not come down to one game. If Newcastle lose to us, they will not be saying we are the reason they are no longer in the Premier League.
"Obviously for a club of that size, who were in the Champions League only a couple of years ago, to go down would be a big disappointment but we want to win for ourselves and have plenty to play for."
O'Neill believes that Villa have made progress this season despite fading in the final third of the campaign.
He said: "Psychologically, if we finish fifth then people will think that is progression. But wherever we come, I think the team has improved.
"The fact we have played an extra 13 or 14 games compared with last year is overlooked when you analyse the season.
"The squad is not big enough to compete with the very big teams but we will be looking to add in the summer. I hope that can happen.
"There are things we can improve on for next season but the fact we have qualified again for European football is in itself progression."
