🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another success against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest still cherish those memories. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking refreshed and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight win across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant tifo showed Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Rösler, son of former Man City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by Ellborg, who was back 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 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match already boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.