Football: Blues v Villa - Ronny: I hope Bruce will be left red-faced.

Byline: GRAHAM HILL 

RONNY Johnsen and Steve Bruce are United in one thing - their medal haul from Old Trafford.

Villa defender Johnsen admits that it was a daunting prospect stepping into Steve Bruce's shoes at Manchester United.

But the Norway international believes he more than matched the reputation set by the current Blues boss.

Johnsen is expected to fill boots of a different kind at St Andrew's today when he takes the place of Alpay in the Villa side to face Blues.

But in 1996, it was Johnsen who was part of the United transition that saw Bruce go to Blues as a player.

Bruce left Old Trafford with a list of honours most players would kill for.

Bandwagon

Premiership titles and domestic cups were all on his roll of honour.

When Johnsen joined forces with Sir Alex Ferguson he kept the United bandwagon rolling. He helped Fergie to claim the treble in 1999 when United beat Bayern Munich to the European Cup.

But when the former Reds came up against each other last season, it was Bruce who came out on top with Blues claiming victory in both games.

Today, Johnsen will be looking to set the record straight as Villa seek the victory that would go some way to redressing the balance in the Second City derby. He knows that Villa must get a decent result, not only for local pride but also to steady their patchy Premiership form.

Although the pair never played together in the same United side, Johnsen has real respect for what Bruce did as a player.

'When I arrived at United, Steve left the club and went to play for Birmingham in his first spell at Blues,' said Johnsen. 'But I know Steve to talk to. He was around at United from time to time and I met him.

'He had a big reputation at United and it was a little daunting to follow him in that back four, but I'm pleased to say that I won trophies there just as he did.

'The success that Steve helped to bring to Old Trafford paved the way for the players who followed to do even better. But when it comes to the Blues v Villa game, I hope that I'm the one who's feeling better.'

Johnsen heard all of last season's talk that Villa's foreign players were not prepared for the intense atmosphere of a Birmingham derby.

The partisan nature of the fixture was thought to have caught Villa by surprise last year following a 16-year break in League action between the sides.

But Johnsen believes the talk is nonsense, despite the fact that Villa crumbled at St Andrew's last season.

Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman conceded a controversial own-goal when he let an Olof Mellberg throw slide under his foot. Alpay was at fault for another Blues goal and that led to the first of several bust-ups with former manager Graham Taylor.

Juan Pablo Angel and Marcus Allback also looked out of sorts but Johnsen says it is wrong to say that foreign stars cannot cope with St Andrew's.

'To say that foreign players cannot cope with a game like this is not right,' said Johnsen at the launch of the Codemasters Aston Villa Club Football video game.

'It is nonsense to suggest that any of the Villa players would not give their best.

Determined

'Obviously, the fans from Birmingham have grown up with the rivalry whereas it is new to us, but we will be as determined as anyone to get something from this match.

'It is not just foreigners - we have British players who do not come from Birmingham. We know this is a derby game and no matter where you come from the three points is all that matters.

'Our previous games have had a lot of incidents in them, but things happen like that sometimes and we just have to concentrate on doing our best.

'But I'm back after injury now and not only do I want to do well for Villa, I also want to be ready for Norway's Euro 2004 play-off games against Spain next month. This is a big few weeks for me and it all starts today.'

CAPTION(S):

MEDAL MAN... Ronny Johnsen found glory at Old Trafford