🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further win against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club continue to cherish those memories. Equally, major changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's historic success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo showed Brian Clough watching events beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence led by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Second Goal Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

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

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match long since boxed off and later introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, too.