You can look at their situation from a couple of angles though, they desperately need 3 points, and if he fields a weakened team which isn't expected to win then there can't be many complaints.
Yes. The place is horrible and they go on like it's fucking Chelsea. I've known a handful of mackems who have never even stepped foot in Newcastle despite being in their mid twenties, yet adamant that Sunderland is the nicer 'city'.