Vukcevic helping Partizan push

By Aleksandar Boškovic

FK Partizan derservedly have the advantage at the break in Serbia and Montenegro with history indicating they will hold on to their lead in the second half of the season.

Good omens
The Belgrade club have won the title on 18 previous occasions when they have been the winter champions. Aside from that encouraging statistic for new coach of the year Vladimir Vermezovic, there are plenty of other good omens for 2005 - not least the form of midfielder Simon Vukcevic.

Prestigious award
The 18-year-old Vukcevic was a major inspiration beind Partizan's good play. The talented teenager is certainly being tipped for big things, having already helped Serbia and Montenegro finish second at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship last summer and been capped twice at full level.

Still unbeaten
Partizan have yet to lose a first division game this season, and won 13 of their 15 matches. They are also still involved in the national cup and, after a 15-year wait, will play European football in the spring when they enter the Round of 32 in the UEFA Cup.

Chasing hard
FK Crvena Zvezda will have to make up three points on the leaders if they are to retain their title in 2005. Their European ambitions have been ended after disappointing exits from the UEFA Champions League and then the UEFA Cup. However, given the departure of coach Ljupko Petrovic and president Dragan Dzajic, the club has performed well to still be in domestic contention.

Zigic on fire
The club's striker Marko Pantelic is the country's leading scorer with 13 goals and has formed an effective partnership with Nikola Zigic, who has nine. The worry was that the club would cash in on their talent in the January transfer window but the signs are that Crvena Zvezda will strengthen rather than sell next month.

Surprising run
The biggest surprise has been FK Zeta, with the club fully deserving of their third place which puts them in the running for the UEFA Cup. They are nine points clear of OFK Beograd, but the capital side, along with FK Buducnost and FK Zemun, will still feel they can make up the ground.

Crowds down
At the other end of the table, there is surprisingly gloomy picture for FK Železnik who have won just once. There is depressing news across the board in terms of stadium support with statistics showing that the average attendance stands at only 1,910 this season.