🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any significant tension or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally present. Both teams shared a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display showed Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a strong header smartly saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground recently, when they additionally scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.