West Ham skipper Lucas Neill can't wait for today's showdown with his former club Blackburn in order to ram the jeers of the booboys back down their throats.
Neill left Ewood Park under a cloud last January and was labelled a mercenary for accepting a hefty pay-rise from the then relegation threatened London club.
The Australia star hit back at the fans who turned on him when he revisited his old stamping ground last March, labelling their reaction "childish'.
And he knows he faces another hostile reception at Ewood Park this afternoon.
He said: "I was disappointed with the reception I got from Blackburn because I gave them six years and never missed training. I led the team and tried to do it the best I could.
Advertisement - article continues below »
"I got them into Europe and three semi-finals and never discredited them or said anything in the press and to be booed for furthering my career was a bit childish. I got a very indifferent reception, a very negative one.
"Today I think I'm now leading a very big club, one which I think pound-forpound is a much bigger club than Blackburn.
"I had six years at Blackburn and needed a change of scenery. I'd been there as long as I could and needed the change to sharpen myself up because I was too comfortable in my surroundings."
Neill had nothing but praise for Blackburn boss Mark Hughes, insisting: "I'm not surprised how well Mark Hughes and the players are doing. His structure is very professional and he helped make me a better professional."
