Neil Warnock is the pantomime villain at Ashton Gate that Bristol City supporters love to hate.
You can be assured that the feeling is undoubtedly mutual with the 73-year-old more than happy to relish in all the hostility and vitriol that has been thrown his way in BS3 throughout his managerial career as he pulls the curtain down on his time in the dugout.
During an appearance on talkSPORT last week, Warnock recalled the brilliant story of when the rivalry was initially sparked all the way back in February 2008 when Gary Johnson was in the dugout.
Crystal Palace were the visitors to Ashton Gate when Palace appeared to be heading back to London with three big points in the promotion race when the fourth official indicated a minimum of five minutes added time.
Cue a Lee Johnson corner in the 97th minute when his delivery was met by Jamie McCombe to head past Julian Speroni, leaving Warnock spitting feathers at the officials which eventually led to a £2,000 fine.
He said on the radio: "When you're in a high profile game and you're in it and you want to win and things go like that and somebody shoves a microphone in your face, you do get emotional and I've never shirked an interview.
"I remember at Bristol City they put five minutes of injury time up and we were winning 1-0 and they have a free-kick and we headed it out for a corner. It should've been time, there were seven minutes gone. They took it and the big centre half scored and they come off and I had to go and do the interviews.
"I went in the dressing room and I said to the lads 'right, I'm going to go on television now and I'm going to get fined and you lot are going to pay it!'
"So I went out and the guy (reporter) said, 'what did you think? there was five minutes injury time and they scored in the seventh Neil, and I replied, 'I thought the referee was out of order when he jumped up and punched the air.'"
Warnock and City would only need to wait three months before the next time he had come unstuck against the Robins - this time in a contest with a lot more at stake.
In the play-off semi-final first-leg at Selhurst Park, a superb David Noble strike from 30-yards in the 93rd minute had sent the 2,000 travelling fans into raptures, with some piling onto the pitch after securing an all-important 2-1 victory.
Just before the second-leg, Warnock said of City: "I thought they were arrogant, we don't need any more motivation. I expect a lot more protection on Tuesday. They came to make sure our young lads got a few kicks early on. They did whatever they could get away with."
Warnock vs Johnson
The feud with Johnson would then be thrown under the spotlight in the following year when Palace's Freddie Sears stuck the ball in the net after 30 minutes - or so he thought - as it cannoned off the stanchion behind the net and back into play.
The referee would inexplicably rule it out assuming that it hit the post understandably leaving the then 60-year-old raging on the touchline. To rub salt in the wound, Nicky Maynard then scored in the 89th minute to give City a 1-0 victory.
Immediately after the game, he said: "I thought Gary Johnson and his players could have shown more sportsmanship."
As Warnock later recalled in the Independent, he said: "I shouted to Gary, 'You should let us score a goal. He wasn't interested. I'll never forget walking off down the touchline with all those City supporters jeering, all of us knowing we should have won the game.
"I told Gary, "You'll regret it, what comes around, goes around', and told the press I was disappointed but it wouldn't surprise me if everything went wrong for Johnson afterwards. I was right, he ended up getting the sack."
"Like father, like son"
That was just the beginning of Warnock's feud with the Johnson clan which was ignited again when Warnock took his Rotherham team to Ashton Gate when Gary's son, Lee, was in charge.
Before the contest, Lee said in the Bristol Post: "We have to make sure we win the match, whether we do it through aggression, good football or intimidation, we have to make sure we do it. I make no apologies for that."
The contest finished 1-1 and Warnock wasted no time in pulling out a copy of the paper and let fly at Johnson calling him an "absolute disgrace."
Warnock responded: "I didn't have to do a team talk, Lee Johnson did it for me yesterday when I read the paper.
"What he said in the local paper was an absolute disgrace. I know he is only a young manager, but I don't think he should be saying things like 'we have to make sure we win, whether we do it by aggression or intimidation'. Like father, like son!"
Soon after, Warnock would then be appointed the manager of Severnside rivals Cardiff City and the home faithful were more than happy to let their feelings towards him well known.
Before the first meeting, he joked: "I always look forward to [playing] Bristol City. I always get such a warm welcome at Ashton Gate."
It also then led to one of his famous quotes, encapsulating the relationship that has brewed between the club, fans and manager over the years.
He said: "When I pass away, I don’t want clapping or a minute’s silence, I want a minute’s booing at Bristol City.”
Whether you'll be happy to see the back of Warnock or miss the rivalry, there is no doubt he deserves a huge amount of respect for a brilliant managerial career that stemmed over 42 years, 1,600 games, eight Football League promotions and 16 different clubs.
In total 23 of those came against City and perhaps it's fitting that it ended all square with nine wins, nine defeats and five draws.
Enjoy the retirement, Neil.
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