I wanted to tell Dion Dublin well done for nutting Robbie Savage not send him off

A former top referee has admitted he wanted to congratulate Dion Dublin for nutting Robbie Savage.

Aston Villa and Birmingham City met in an explosive Second City Derby in March 2003, with the Blues winning 2-0. Either side of their second half goals, the host had two players sent, with strike Dublin first to see red.

The man in the middle that night was Mark Halsey, who knew he would have his hands full as Villa looked to avenge a 3-0 defeat at St Andrews earlier in the season. Experienced duo Dublin and Savage had already been going at it before their infamous confrontation early in the second half.

I was doing Villa v Birmingham, a Monday night live on Sky. You know the players dont like each other, he told the Under The Cosh podcast.