🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the City Ground as Forest followers celebrated another result against Malmö. Much has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

It proved to be an event dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing reception when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a large tifo, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a strong header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he introduced substitutes 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 Murillo with the game already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.