Robbie Savage has been reflecting on getting 'absolutely hammered' by Newcastle United fans at Rochdale earlier this season - and Steve Bruce admits he was glad his former player was 'getting it instead of me'.
The Welshman was on co-commentary duties for BT Sport when Newcastle travelled to Spotland in January for their FA Cup third-round tie.
The gantry was situated near the sold-out away end and supporters' expletive chants about Savage were clearly audible, which forced commentator Peter Drury to apologise live on air.
Savage went on to write that some fans were making 'vile threats' against his family and that the reception he received that afternoon went 'beyond the pale'.
The 45-year-old briefly looked back on that day at Spotland when he was reunited with Bruce on BBC Radio 5 Live on the eve of Newcastle's FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Man City.
Savage and Bruce, of course, worked together at Birmingham City before the former midfielder completed his protracted move to Blackburn in 2005.
Savage: "I had been involved in your cup run. Rochdale away, I was getting absolutely hammered off the Newcastle fans. Did you hear it?"
Bruce: "I'm glad you were in the ground because you were getting it instead of me!"
Savage: "I thought you might have joined in the way I left Birmingham!"
Bruce: "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've just about forgiven you now, Rob. I told you it was the wrong move, though, but I know you get to say that you played in Europe and all that. A long time ago, Rob, eh?"
