Bunjevcevic: Robbie's on my hit list

Goran Bunjevcevic today warned Robbie Savage that he can expect a hostile reception in Belgrade.

The Tottenham midfielder will face the Wales international for Serbia and Montenegro in a European Championship qualifier tonight and he predicts his counterpart's provocative style will not go down well.

Savage goes into the crucial Group Nine match against what was formerly Yugoslavia again embroiled in controversy after being awarded a penalty from a tussle with Anthony Gardner, which led to Spurs' 1-0 defeat at Birmingham last weekend.

The incident still annoys Bunjevcevic and he believes the Wales player will be making a mistake if he infuriates an already hostile Belgrade crowd tonight.

The Spurs player said: "It will be interesting to come up against Savage-again because he is the one who makes all the stupid runs and tackles.

"I think there was no way he was entitled to a penalty at Birmingham but that is what he is like, he really gets the supporters going.

"He will definitely get the crowd going against him a lot tonight and I think that will play into our hands because they can make a lot of noise.

"In the Premiership everybody knows about him. He is a nuisance and even if he is not playing well he is always in your face.

"I think you get used to him but I have explained to my team-mates they should just let him run around and swear in their faces.

"When he has got the ball he does not have a good game but if you let him make his tackles it is different. I will keep a special eye out for him. He is on my list."

Bunjevcevic would not elaborate on the nature of his list but tonight's encounter will certainly be fiery. Another caution will mean that Savage, who along with Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy is on a yellow card going into tonight's game, will miss Wales's next qualifier against Italy.

However Bunjevcevic is not expecting Savage to hold back: "All the players have seen video clips of Savage and maybe we can make him make a tackle which earns him another booking."

Wales, who have won all of their four previous group games, will be guaranteed a play-off spot if they manage to draw in a match which was scheduled for April but postponed because of security problems.

Manager Mark Hughes has made it clear this is a pivotal point in their campaign as a win would put them five points clear of second-placed Italy and make them favourites to get through to the finals in Portugal next summer.

Serbia and Montenegro are under new management after a poor qualifying campaign and new head coach Ilija Petkovic is bullish about the prospects of his team, which will include players such as Bunjevcevic, Lazio's Dejan Stankovic and Portsmouth's Dejan Stefanovic.

Former Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic (knee) is their main doubt but Wales are without Celtic striker John Hartson (back) and Fulham defender Andy Melville (foot).

Bunjevcevic said: "Everybody is surprised that Wales are top of the group and no one thought we would be second from bottom.

"This will be a big game and it could be make or break for both teams."