Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 victory over Malmö FF in the Europa League illustrated everything about their cherished past successes and their current upturn in form, with parallels from both eras evident under the City Ground lights. George Edwards was at the match
From the moment the floodlights were cranked on until the final whistle, Thursday night’s romantic encounter with Malmö FF personified everything that makes Nottingham Forest the historic and prominent football club that it is.
Until 30 May 1979, Nottingham was known for one famous fairytale — Robin Hood. But step forward the miracle men in red, step forward Trevor Francis and step forward Nottingham Forest, creating a fairytale story of their own and stamping Nottingham authoritatively onto the European map.
The two stars proudly emblazoned on Forest’s renowned crest illustrate that every past moment of success will be celebrated and shouted about for eternity – no generation of supporter able to grow up without knowledge of the heroes that once wore the eminent badge.
In the season that Forest reannounce themselves on the European stage, it’s fitting and almost fate that they were awarded the fixture that started it all. And everything about the evening’s play took everybody in the City Ground back to those days of limitless ambition in the late 1970s.
When Arnaud Kalimuendo grabbed his first Forest goal to put them 2-0 up just before half-time, every red shirt went sprinting towards him with delight.
The French striker has had a tough start to life in English football, often feeding off scraps both in terms of game time and service when he does play. He’s painted an isolated and unattached figure at times. Yet, Forest’s band of brothers has made him one of their own, genuine glee as he reacted sharply to convert following Ryan Yates’s saved header.
Togetherness was at the essence of Forest’s success in the golden days. I wasn’t around to see it, but it’s crystal clear how important the bond shared between Forest’s greats majorly contributed to their success.
In the past five days, Forest have secured back-to-back 3-0 victories at Anfield and in Europe. That’s not a feasibly believable statement since that golden generation, an achievement even they never managed to pull off.
Seven different names from the team that demolished Liverpool, that same intent and authority shone through. Forest weren’t quite in their attacking flow in the early stages against Malmö, unsurprising given the volume of changes in forward areas. But slowly they gained confidence, grew sharper and found connections, physically bullying their Swedish opponents out of the contest.
It was vital that Forest finished the game unscathed. For once, they were expected to get the job done easily and did exactly that, with no jitters or mistakes, a stress-free 90 minutes a very rare phenomenon cherished by every supporter watching on.
One of those supporters wasn’t watching on, however, he was too busy winning his team the game.
Ryan Yates was the figurehead of Forest’s triumph. A goal, two assists (if you can call them that) and 90 minutes of drive and dominance in the middle of the park. Yates played with vigour, spraying balls out to the flanks and rampaging forward in ways some spectators will tell you are beyond him.
Next to him, Ibrahim Sangaré oozed clarity and dynamism. The Ivorian is finally into his groove and has found a way to mask his weaknesses in pace through interceptions, reading play and using his body.
The partnership of Yates and Sangaré is a familiar one but one that has never quite clicked. They’ve never seemed to bounce off each other when playing together, and they fail to bring what the other lacks. Albeit against toothless opposition, the duo proved their worth last night with 132 passes, five chances created and nine recoveries shared between them.
In truth, Forest didn’t quite click this season until they appointed Sean Dyche, and last night’s flawless team display is one that came from the top.
His calls to rotate his goalkeeper again, to field four natural centre-backs and to persist with Kalimuendo were bold, but he has made every player self-confident, focused and absolutely determined to give their all in their quest to get Forest back on track.
Everybody is all in because everybody is given their moment. Zach Abbott’s impressive two-minute cameo against Sturm Graz could easily have counted for nothing but instead, it earned him a start in Europe at the place he’s worked so hard to perform at since the age of 11.
The Reds are now unbeaten in five, have moved to within two points of the Europa League automatic qualification spots and have struck the perfect balance between defence and attack. And they believe. And when Nottingham Forest believe, just as that treasured Munich night in 1979 proves, the sky is their limit.
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