🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the stadium as Forest fans reveled in a further success against Malmö. Much has happened since Francis's winning header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also present. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second 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 wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Goal Seals Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and only his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off the back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.