🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the stadium as Forest fans celebrated another success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup in 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any significant tension or nerves.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 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 aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected wide off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team 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 Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.