This victory was about so much more than Nottingham Forest embracing their glorious past.
No fixture against Malmo could ever eclipse one of the greatest nights in this club’s history – the 1-0 win over the Swedes that ensured Forest lifted the European Cup in 1979.
Yet this was still a crucial win. Goals from Ryan Yates, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Nikola Milenkovic put Forest back on course for the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Several veterans from both sides of the 1979 Final were invited on to the pitch before kick-off and at least half of them would have liked what they saw.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis wants this club back among the European elite and their only route there in the short term is by winning this competition.
Furthermore, with Sean Dyche settling on his preferred core of players, those on the outside need Forest to stay in the Europa League. More fixtures mean more chances to shine and keep promising careers on track.
Captain Ryan Yates was among the scorers as Nottingham Forest earned a 3-0 win over Malmo
Arnaud Kalimuendo scored his first Nottingham Forest goal following his summer move
Forest and Malmo stars from the 1979 European Cup final were paraded before the match
Between them, James McAtee and Kalimuendo cost about £50million and before this match, little had gone right for them.
The managerial upheaval – from Nuno Espirito Santo to Ange Postecoglou and now Dyche – has not helped. Yet this was only McAtee’s fourth start, with Kalimuendo in the XI for just the second time.
Kalimuendo scored his first goal for Forest and McAtee played a part in the 44th-minute strike. Not many would bet on either being heavily involved when Forest take on Brighton on Sunday, though – nor in the Premier League fixtures that follow.
Kalimuendo off the mark but his task remains clear
Some of the Frenchman’s contributions were impressive. His goal, hooked in from a tight angle after Ryan Yates’ header had been parried, was more difficult than it appeared at first.
A clever exchange with Callum Hudson-Odoi brought a good save from Melker Elborg, and Kalimuendo also fired wide early on after he was released by Murillo. He might have had a hat-trick.
But this is a forward who probably needs to play with a more orthodox No9 to show his best. In the Premier League, Dyche is starting to use Morgan Gibbs-White in a more advanced role, operating closer the powerful Igor Jesus.
Dyche is thought to rate Jesus very highly and will also call on Chris Wood when last season’s top scorer returns from injury. He has also shown some faith in Taiwo Awoniyi, who is also injured.
Kalimuendo scored from close range to double Forest’s lead in the first half at the City Ground
While Forest insist he will not leave in January, he has admirers in France, Italy and Germany
With Sean Dyche thought to rate Igor Jesus highly, their stance on Kalimuendo may change
Once Wood and Awoniyi are fit, Kalimuendo will have difficulty forcing his way back in. Forest insist the 23-year-old will not leave in January, even on loan. Yet there is plenty of time between now and then and given Dyche wants to strengthen in defence and midfield, he may be prepared to let a forward leave – likely Awoniyi or Kalimuendo, who appeared grumpy when replaced by Jesus midway through the second half.
Kalimuendo’s predicament was laid bare when Jesus held off a defender on the touchline, secured the ball and won a free-kick. That is what a Dyche No9 has to be able to do.
After 18 goals for Rennes last season, Kalimuendo’s stock is relatively high and he has admirers in France, Italy and Germany. Watch this space.
McAtee low on confidence and faces clear obstacle
The England Under-21 international, a summer capture from Manchester City, has a similar problem. In Dyche’s Plan A, he is the deputy for Gibbs-White.
Gibbs-White has played virtually every minute under Dyche in the league, scoring in each of his last three games. Dyche has unlocked the midfielder’s killer instinct and urges him to break into the box more.
Dyche also needs athletes and that is not McAtee’s game. His cross from the right led to the second goal, while there was also a nice return pass for Ibrahim Sangare. Equally, this performance will not have given Dyche a headache for the weekend.
James McAtee looked low on confidence and faces a battle to dislodge Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest’s 1979 European Cup triumph was projected onto the City Ground
Understandably, McAtee looks low on confidence. He found space easily enough only to play the safe pass far too often. But McAtee looks like a guy who needs to be given the keys to the team, rather than perform a supporting role, to deliver his best.
Is he good enough to be trusted with them at the highest level? If the jury is out on that, then one thing is certain. For as long as Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson are at Forest, McAtee will not be getting them.
