🔗 Share this article

“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the ground as Forest supporters reveled in another win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but Forest still cherish those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

It proved to be an event dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were additionally present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display showed Brian Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to score his first goal since March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they also netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match already sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.