🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in another success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the European Cup in 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team looking refreshed and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally present. Both teams shared a meal together before the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected wide off the back Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also earlier had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they also netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and later brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.