🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in another success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

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

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally present. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large tifo, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up 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 wide inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his first goal since March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected aside off the back Colin Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of thrills, too.