Partizan warm up with defeat

Last updated : 26 August 2003 By Martyn Elliott

The Serbian champions surprisingly lost 2-1 at Obilic, despite a goal from captain Sasa Ilic, leaving manager Lothar Matthaus in a none to positive frame of mind ahead of their trip to St James’ Park.

"We did not play as well as we could and should," moaned the German.

The result leaves Partizan in fifth place in the league, but after only two games played that statistic is probably as meaningless as I hope our current league position is.