🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the momentum generated from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a large banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

Yates 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 on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off the back Rösler, the son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim 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 multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match already sewn up and later introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of thrills, as well.