ROBBIE Savage today spoke of his delight after he silenced the Birmingham boo-boys with a starring role in Blackburn Rovers' 2-0 win over the Blues.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who was jeered from start to finish on Saturday, positively revelled in heaping further misery on his former club, who are deep in trouble near the foot of the Premiership following the weekend's results.

Blues fans have never forgiven Savage for the way he engineered his move to Rovers at the turn of the year.

The manner of his departure caused bitter resentment at St Andrew's and Birmingham chairman David Gold even taunted his star midfielder by claiming he was leaving to join a smaller club.

However, it was Savage who had the last laugh at the weekend after he produced a man-of-the-match performance against his former club to show them exactly what they have been missing.

The Welshman said: "I waited a long time for this game to come because I wasn't allowed to play in it last season and I'm just pleased to have won it, both for myself and Mark Bowen (Rovers' assistant manager).

"A lot of things were said when I left there, the main thing being I was coming to a smaller club.

"So it's just nice that the smaller club is eight points ahead of the bigger club in the Premiership now!

"At the end of the day, I gave two and a half great years to Birmingham and they got a fair price for me at the end of it.

"But I just wanted to come to play for Mark Hughes, Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki and be nearer home, which is why I moved here.

"I'm settled at home now, I love coming into training every day, I love working with the lads, and I'm just completely happy.

"I think you can see the difference in me as a character.

"I was down at Birmingham and my wife wasn't happy in the house on her own, but now things are going well for us and I'm really happy at Blackburn."

Savage was always going to be the centre of attention as he faced his former club for the first time since his controversial move in January.

In the pre-match warm-up, he made great play of hugging his former team-mates, but his affection did not extend to the visiting fans.

After a typically forceful tackle, he exchanged words with one. On another occasion, he shaped to boot the ball at another before rolling it back to the keeper.

Then, after the final whistle, he indulged in a spot of badge kissing in full view of the Darwen End, an act that guarantees him a hostile reception when Rovers visit St Andrew's in April.

"To be honest, I don't care about that," said the Welshman, who turned 31 last week.

"I'm a Blackburn player and I love playing for Blackburn Rovers and I love being here, so I don't care what reception I get.

"I got a lot of stick from the Birmingham fans, which I knew I'd get, but the Blackburn fans have been great to me since I've been here and to get the man of the match award as well (on Saturday) was brilliant.

"It was the perfect day for me.

"It was the first time I'd ever been nervous before a game.

"In the first five minutes my legs were like jelly and I couldn't get going, which was really nerve racking.

"But my first challenge was great and that settled me down after that."

Now Savage is looking forward to Saturday's game at Chelsea and he believes Rovers have a chance of becoming the first side to defeat the league leaders this season.

"We can now go to Chelsea and if we get anything it will be a bonus," he added.

"We did well against them last year so you just never know.

"They've got to lose one sooner or later, but they're a great team."