🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in a further result against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but the club continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight win across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or jitters.

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

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were additionally present. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the match. Forest legends and company were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header parried by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off the back Colin Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match 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 scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they additionally scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of excitement, too.