🔗 Share this article Kalimuendo Fires as Nottingham Forest Earn Nostalgic Triumph Against Malmö “Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the City Ground as Forest supporters reveled in a further result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy in the year 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition. Building Steam with Another Straight Victory For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup success in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or jitters. It proved to be an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past. The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the Trent End. Remembering History “May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display showed Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion. Dominance from the Outset So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go. It felt fitting that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his first goal since last March. Another Goal Seals Control The scorer was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved 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 only his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post. A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Opponent's Struggles This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers. The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period. Hiccup-Free Night for Forest It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game long since sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.