ROBBIE Savage is guaranteed a hostile reception when Aston Villa descend on Ewood Park tonight - but Blackburn Rovers' chief wind-up merchant is relishing the chance to resume his role as the pantomime villain!

Over the last few months, Savage has had to be content with being only the second most unpopular man in English football, after team-mate David Bentley has usurped him as the player most opposition fans love to hate.

However, order is about to be restored this evening, with Savage set to regain his position as public enemy number one.

The former Birmingham midfielder has history' with Villa, dating back to a particularly venomous Midlands derby between the two clubs in March, 2003.

On a day of raw emotions at Villa Park, Birmingham secured a first league double in 26 years over their bitter second city' rivals.

But that game is not ultimately remembered for the goals scored by Stan Lazaridis and Geoff Horsfield; rather an explosive clash between Savage and Dion Dublin that resulted in the Villa striker being sent off.

The blue-touch paper was lit five minutes into the second half, when Dublin's late sliding challenge on Savage prompted an ugly melee in which the forward, having wrestled himself away from referee Mark Halsey, clearly head-butted Savage.

As the Welshman sank to the floor clutching his face, Dublin was promptly dismissed and trudged off down the tunnel mouthing He's a cheat' to a TV camera.

Worse was to come for Villa, who also had Joey Gudjonsson sent off for a horrific two-footed lunge on Matthew Upson.

Savage, meanwhile, had to be substituted for his own good, and was later confronted by a livid home supporter who had eluded the numerous riot police stationed around the touchline.

Although Savage has since swapped Birmingham for Blackburn, the passage of time has done little to dilute the hatred Villa fans feel towards him.

But, instead of being concerned by the hail of invective likely to come his way, the 33-year-old appears to thrive off it.

"I love it. I can't wait," said the Rovers midfielder.

"My first Villa-Birmingham game was the one when Peter Enckelman had an absolute nightmare and I never let him forget about it!

"That was the best atmosphere I have ever played in.

"I've played in front of 75,000 at the Millennium Stadium, but the atmosphere that night was the best I have ever played in.

"You had grannies shouting things at the Villa and singing that song about them. It was unbelievable.

"I love the stick. At the minute, I'm quite disappointed because Bents is getting more boos than me at away grounds. I'm quite disappointed about that.

"I'm going to have to do something hilarious so that I can be the pantomime villain again!"