🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the ground as Forest supporters reveled in another success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an event dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from then were also in attendance. Both teams shared a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his first goal since March.

Another Goal Seals Control

The scorer was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off the back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the game long since sewn up and later brought on teenage 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 current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, too.