Tbh Delilah, I agree with you about the stigma attached to stoke, I went to the britannia last season but me and my mates drank in birmingham before hand seeming we live in Birmingham (I listened to the hype and thought we'd run into trouble at stoke). When we got there, I didnt get one bad word directed towards myself.
Now, Has this story actually been confirmed about the stabbing in Newcastle, at the moment it just seems like rumour. Regarding your club, I think you will stay up because the team seems effective at what it does. You wont win many fans in the way you play but like you've said, play to your strengths and whatevers effective.