🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to 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 convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, 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 effort off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his free header saved by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off Malmö back Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match already sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.