🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the City Ground as Forest followers reveled in another success against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup back in the year 1979, but the club still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was free of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

This was an event dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates 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

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also previously had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of thrills, as well.