🔗 Share this article Kalimuendo Scores as Forest Earn Nostalgic Win Over Malmö “You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in a further result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the Europa League. Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Victory For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight win across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any significant jeopardy or nerves. It proved to be an occasion filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago. The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the home stand. Recalling History “May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display showed Clough watching events beside his assistant 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 evening? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an effort wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide 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 initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to register his first goal since March. Second Goal Confirms Control Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post. A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off the back Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Malmö’s Difficulties This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers. The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half. Smooth Evening for the Team It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.