🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another success against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club continue to cherish those memories. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing refreshed and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive clash between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed 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.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match already boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.