🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in another win against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those memories. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the break. 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 Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off the back Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game long since sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of thrills, too.