Birmingham City chairman David Gold has launched a stinging attack on Robbie Savage after the midfielder refused to end their feud and insisted: "I don't deserve to be treated that badly."

Savage and Gold were involved in a war of words after the former Welsh international midfielder moved from Blues to Blackburn in acrimonious circumstances during the January 2005 transfer window.

Gold decided yesterday's Barclays Premiership game between the clubs was the right time to bury the hatchet and was left bitterly disappointed when Savage brushed aside his handshake.

Gold ended up having the last laugh after Savage had scored his first goal for Rovers thanks to Mikael Forssell's first goal in open play for two years.

Gold said: "I am hugely disappointed with what happened on Tuesday. When you put your hand out to shake someone else's hand, and they don't reciprocate, it's pretty unpleasant. It's horrible.

"It really disappointed me because it just didn't occur to me that Robbie would react in that way.

"I was great friends with Robbie. I don't deserve to be treated that badly.

"I tried my best to keep him at Birmingham. I did everything in my power because for two-and-a-half years he was outstanding.

"It was him who left, reneging on a four-year contract, which was pretty outrageous.

"Nevertheless, I still offered to shake his hand because you've got to move on in this world. You shouldn't carry grudges. We are big boys and we've got to get on with our lives.

"Will Robbie regret what he did? I don't think so. I wish him well but again I will say, it's disappointing for someone to ignore the hand of friendship."

While the war of words raged off the field between Savage and Gold, the main thing was that Blues won the battle on the park.

Many teams might have been psychologically broken by the sight of Savage scoring against them at such a crucial moment. But Steve Bruce's Blues had the character to come back and win and give themselves a massive injection of confidence for this term's final three games.

"There was no way we were giving it up," said Bruce. "We've been through a lot over the last few months and we all know what the low point was but the team have responded really well over the last three home games.

"We deserved the win as we created the better chances and, even when we got two more injuries, the rest just rolled up their sleeves and had a right good go."

As far as that never-ending injury list is concerned, Bruce was not helped by picking up those two more, to Jermaine Pennant and Emile Heskey, who are both now battling to be fit for tomorrow's crucial trip to Everton.

"I came into the press conference before the Villa game with everybody fit," moaned Bruce. "Now I've lost six or seven within a week.

"Jermaine hurt his groin in the first 30 seconds taking the first free kick and Emile's gone over on his ankle and we'll have to see how they are.

"Stan Lazaridis is struggling with a groin, Muzzy Izzet might have a chance, although his knee is still sore, Jiri Jarosik nowhere near, David Dunn has no chance and Matthew Upson's problem is well chronicled."

At least Bruce was encouraged by the performances on Wednesday night from two players who have been spent too much time in the treatment room - goalscorer Mikael Forssell and Julian Gray, who was involved in the creation of both Blues goals.

"Julian Gray has had a horrible ankle that's kept him out six weeks," said Bruce. "I maybe wasn't ideal that he'd played half a game for the reserves the previous night but he gave us that balance and athleticism that's needed against teams like Blackburn.

"As for Mikael, he's been frustrated as hell at times but it was a typical Mikael Forssell goal to pop up at the death like that and shift his feet the way he did to get the shot in.

"We hope that's him off and running now."