🔗 Share this article Kalimuendo Strikes as Nottingham Forest Claim Nostalgic Triumph Over Malmö “You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated a further result against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League. Gaining Steam with Another Straight Victory For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or jitters. This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past. Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a rousing reception when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the Trent End. Recalling History “May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion. Dominance from the Outset So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go. It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since last March. Another Strike Seals Dominance Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post. A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned wide off the back Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Malmö’s Difficulties This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to match Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers. Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they additionally scored three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the final period. Hiccup-Free Night for the Team It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game long since boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.