🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in another success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás 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' defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was implicated in the team's next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s energy. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they additionally 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 Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match long since sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, too.