🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in another success against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning 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 weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third consecutive win across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an event dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the box to score his first goal since last March.

Second Goal Confirms Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of former Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they additionally scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.