🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated a further result against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but Forest still treasure those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first 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 academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the box to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender also earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

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

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game already boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “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.