PARTIZAN BELGRADE boss Vladimir Vermezovic last night claimed "we don't know Stewart Downing never mind fear him".

Downing may have lit up the Premiership and the UEFA Cup this season but Vermezovic insists no preparations have gone into trying to combat the wing sensation.

Instead the confident Partizan manager has warned Middlesbrough to beware the threat of the Serbians at the Riverside Stadium tonight in the battle for top spot in Group E.

"We are not aware of Downing or anybody from Middlesbrough," said Vermezovic, a former defender for the club. "But what Partizan will show is that Middlesbrough have to be aware of us."

Only four players remain on the Partizan playing staff - Ivica Kralj, Albert Nadj, captain Sasa Ilic and Nenad Djordjevic - from the side that defeated Newcastle United in a Champions League qualifier last year.

Since then German manager Lothar Matthaus has departed and his successor, bringing Partizan back to England for the first time since that night at St James' Park, claims the changes have not been for the worse.

"In this team there are four players left from the Newcastle game. But it doesn't mean we are weaker than last year," he said. "I don't know if we are or not. All I would say is that if Middlesbrough are stronger than Newcastle then we are stronger than last year."

Partizan have made the trip to Teesside with an exceptional away record this season, particularly in their league.

From their seven league games they have picked up maximum points, scored 21 times and conceded just three.

Partizan are made up mainly of Serbians and Bosnians, while they also have two Africans in Cameroon striker Pierre Boya and Nigerian defender Ifeany Emeghara.

Vermezovic warned Middlesbrough to expect a rough ride. He said: "We have an opportunity to gain a result in the place where football was born. We are going full strength into the game.

"It's a hard game because Middlesbrough are a better team than Lazio. Only Gods who will win this match."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.