🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the City Ground as Forest supporters reveled in a further success against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic triumph in name, the game itself was devoid of any real tension or jitters.

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

Forest fully embraced the history, honoring the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the match. Forest legends and company received a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the squads 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 Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off the back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match already sewn up and later brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.