🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated another success against Malmö. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

It proved to be an event dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display showed Brian Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header parried by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off the defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had previously had a powerful 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 initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye 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 withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.