🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the City Ground as Forest supporters reveled in a further success against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those memories. Equally, major changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was free of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

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

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling 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 required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo showed Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Goal Seals Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected aside off the back Colin Rösler, the son of former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match long since boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of excitement, too.