THE Stadium of Death prepares to welcome Newcastle United once again tonight, but there will be a more mild-tempered chief in charge of Partizan Belgrade this time around.

And Magpies boss Sir Bobby Robson knows all about his opposite number this evening - former West Germany captain Lothar Matthaus. In 1990, when Robson was in charge of England, magical Matthaus skippered the West Germans to World Cup glory in Italy - after first overcoming England in a famous semi-final penalty shoot-out win in Turin.

Now Matthaus is in charge of Partizan and, although he wears his heart on his sleeve, the ex-Bayern Munich and Inter Milan star does not compete with his predecessor in the bad behaviour stakes.

Five years ago - when Ruud Gullit's Newcastle last visited the Partizan Stadium - Ljubisa Tumbakovic was at the helm.

But Tumbakovic has since resigned after nearly ten seasons in charge of the Serbia & Montenegro champions - a decade that did not pass without controversy.

Time after time the club's supporters - nicknamed the Undertakers because of the proximity of the Topcider Cemetary to the 32,710 capacity ground - would riot if results did not go their way, or even if they did.

When Newcastle were knocked out of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1998, on the away goals rule, the Partizan fans still rioted by ripping up the plastic seating and hurling them at police. But as Tumbakovic will tell you, the supporters were not the only problem.

The former boss won six Yugoslav league titles and three domestic Cups, including a double in 1994, and he is the most successful coach in the country's football history. Despite his success on the field, though, Tumbakovic still had his critics and those who dared cross him soon wished they hadn't.

When Partizan struggled in December 2002, the pressure began to mount on the 54-year-old after a 5-1 drubbing in the UEFA Cup at the hands of Slavia Prague, which was followed by a shock 4-1 home defeat by Zeleznik in the Yugoslav FA Cup quarter-finals.

Tumbakovic's woes culminated in an ugly bust-up with a Serbian state television reporter, Nedeljko Kovinjalo, at a post match news conference and he was ordered to pay nearly £3,000.

He apologised and in his statement he said: "The man I spoke to, inappropriately I must admit, has been attempting for years, persistently and at all costs, to be my biggest critic.

"In addition, he never refrained from tackling strictly expert issues and belittling everything or related to or done by Ljubisa Tumbakovic."

Thankfully, regardless of the result tonight, Robson and the British press core can expect a better reception from Matthaus.

And the legendary German midfielder will guarantee that his squad of players will be doing their utmost to stop Newcastle qualifying for their second successive Champions League campaign - worth £50m.

Matthaus, who has Nigerian Taribo West in his defence, has got Partizan in top shape.

They opened the campaign in their quest for a consecutive League title by overcoming Borac 6-1 on Saturday. And they are hotly-tipped to clinch their 16th crown after finishing last season 19 points ahead of their nearest rivals Red Star Belgrade