🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the ground as Forest fans celebrated a further win against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an event dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams shared a meal together before the match. Forest legends and company received a rousing reception when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read half of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had previously had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also netted three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of excitement, as well.