🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in another success against Malmö. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club still treasure those memories. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an event filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by the goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö back Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort 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 Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground recently, when they also netted three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match long since boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of thrills, too.