🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in another result against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club continue to cherish those memories. Equally, significant shifts have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight win across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to register his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header saved by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off the defender Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game long since sewn up and later introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, too.