🔗 Share this article

“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Forest supporters reveled in a further win against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club continue to treasure those memories. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic success in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read half of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display showed Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the box to register his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header parried by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected wide off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an free the defender had earlier had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

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

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He 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 producing of excitement, as well.