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Malmo fans clash with stewards and police, then earn praise for being ‘the best’ at City Ground

Malmo fans clash with stewards and police, then earn praise for being ‘the best’ away fans at City Ground on Thursday night.

The majority of them were praised with soon Nottingham Forest fans describing them the ‘best away fans’ at the stadium for a long time after bringing the noise, chanting non stop, and making for a bumper atmosphere.

But sadly there was some troubling scenes with Malmo fans clashing with stewards and police inside the City Ground, and another of antics by Nottingham train station after the game.

@razzo1 wrote: “Back home and wow what a result, an atmosphere and overall a great game, despite the scuffle of some Malmo fans physically abusing stewards, ripping away netting that is used to spilt fans, the minority of those do not over excel the majority that enjoyed the occasion, those that enjoyed the day the game.

“I hope this fixture clashes again because to see when your 3 nil down and still bouncing, drumming and the dude with the megaphone, that is top tier support. And to the kind Malmo fans to who I said safe travels and spoke to briefly thanks.”

Nottingham Forest comfortably came out 3-0 winners, with goals from Ryan Yates, Arnaud Kalimuendo, and Nikola Milenkovic. Callum Hudson-Odoi also saw a chance of his come back off the bar.

The win, a repeat of the 1979 European Cup final victory over the Swedish side, was Forest’s third straight victory.

This leaves Forest sitting just two points behind the Europa League top eight (automatic last-16 spots) with three group games remaining, boosting their chances of a playoff place.

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche, speaking to TNT Sports: “I’m very pleased. I thought we were excellent defensively. They didn’t really lay a glove on us which was credit to the back five really, the goalkeeper and the back four did a great job. That sets the tone then for the performance. It was a bit of a slow start, but they camped in and that can be hard to breakdown.

“Overall, I’m really pleased with the players. We had some coming back into fitness like Callum [Hudson-Odoi], and I thought [Ryan] Yates was brilliant. I’m really pleased with the squad mentality, it was really clear tonight and we’re going to need that going forwards.”

“I’m pleased for the crowd as well because they come here and the European campaign is really important to them and us. It’s great when players are changed and they are still delivering performances, that’s really key for squad mentality. We have got strength in depth and we need it because of the injuries.

“Consistency is a big thing that we’re working on during training sessions and something we want to bring in, but that’s on everyone not just the starting XI. I’ve been really impressed with that tonight.”

On Ryan Yates scoring on every day of the week for Nottingham Forest now: “I didn’t know that, but fair play! He is a real club man, everyone knows that. He is a credit to himself, with his professionalism and the way he works for us. He has been first-class so I’m really pleased for him.”

Dyche, speaking to TNT Sports about Arnaud Kalimuendo: “It has been more of a fitness situation with him. He wasn’t quite fit when came in because of an injury, then we played him out at Sturm Graz and he did well there but he was just running out of energy. For him it’s about getting fitter, getting sharper and getting more used to being here.”

Dyche, speaking to TNT Sports, on whether his side can qualify automatically for the last-16:

“It’s certainly looking up. We delivered a strong performance out at Sturm Graz, we didn’t get the goal we needed but it was a very strong performance.

“It’s good to come back here, especially after the Liverpool win, so to back that up with a win is great. That’s the main thing for me: keeping that mentality, particularly here at home because of the fanbase, and keeping that consistency in our performances. If you take care of each game, the rest of it takes care of itself.

“The Premier League has been massively important for this club after getting back into it, so of course it holds its place for this club, but the Europa League is equally important because of the history. We want to do well on both fronts, but it’s not always that easy.”

Nottingham Forest captain and goalscorer Ryan Yates, speaking to TNT Sports: “We knew it was a really nice occasion for the club. There was a really nice build up and we have obviously just done a really nice gesture. We had a job to do. We knew if we performed to what we know we can, we would get the result. Job done, onto the next.

“We were putting a lot of balls in the box so I thought I need to just stay on the edge of the box and one will drop to me, luckily it did.”

On the atmosphere at the City Ground: “It is unbelievable. These nights at the City Ground in Europe, we have to cherish them. They are just so special. The supporters had something different for us tonight. It is a pleasure to be a part of.”

Yates on team-mate Arnaud Kalimuendo scoring his first goal for the club: “I’m gutted because I should’ve scored my second! Honestly, we are all really buzzing for him. The hard work he is putting in for the team, with all the unselfish runs, have paid off. There are a lot of unsung heroes in this team and he is certainly one of them. He really deserved his goal.”

Nottingham Forest academy graduate Zach Abbott, speaking to TNT Sports: “It was brilliant out there. Obviously the lads made it easier by scoring up the other end of the pitch, but I thought the whole team played really well.

“We were very aggressive on the high press and we tried not to give them an inch, but obviously you know in these games that there is high quality opposition. It was a great feeling for me, it makes me want more and more. I’m buzzing, you can see the smile on my face.

“Before the match the gaffer [Sean Dyche] said to play it forwards and think forwards, so that’s what I wanted to do in the game. It’s important in that position to get forward and put some crosses in.

“I know that if I put a good one in, there is quality in the box to get on the end of it. Unfortunately my crosses might have been too high or something tonight because they didn’t come off, but hopefully they will another day.”

 Abbott, speaking to TNT Sports, on seeing Ryan Yates come through the academy to become captain: “It is brilliant. He is now club captain and that is the path that I want to go on because it is a great journey. I’m sure he’s had many great memories, like the Championship play-off final, and now he’s taken his boyhood club to Europe. Hopefully I can do that when I’m older as well. He is just an inspiration really.”

On taking the next steps to becoming a first-team regular: “I think it’s about earning that trust completely. Managers want to play people that they can trust all the time. If I can do that then I might become more regular. In the short-term, I’m looking forward to taking each game as it comes and making as much of an impression in training. Hopefully I can make my Premier League debut soon.”

Here’s how Twitter users reacted after seeing Malmo fans clash with stewards and police, then earn praise for being ‘the best’ at City Ground…

@fazco0: Does this say something about the Malmo, Young boys and Bayern munchen fans or does this say something about the stewards and police in England? 👀

@RobCanton1: Completely agree. Forest fans singing “You’ve lost that loving feeling”, but they never did. Just bouncing, singing and clapping. We spoke to a couple of them later – great guys. Credit to their club, to fans, and to the game of football 👏👏👏 #Malmo #nffc

@95Redss: Malmo fans were fantastic last night, credit to them for showing up and enjoying themselves like they did. Loved the harmless pisstake from our fans with the clap too 🙈 #NFFC

@DizzyNFFC: You know what, skirmishes with the stewards aside, Malmo fans were absolute quality from the first minute until the last. Singing their hearts out and not giving a fuck, even at 2/3 down. #NFFC #MALMO #FORMAL

@Greeny_293: Was a strange atmosphere (from a Forest perspective), we started a team with 7 changes and to be honest it felt like we were massively prioritising (rightly so) the PL. The Malmo fans though 😮 Best fans I’ve seen at the City Ground in, well possibly ever. They were that good 👏🏼

@NffcWalst: @Malmo_FF your fans last night @nffc were absolutely fantastic, well done 👏

@LiloNffc: Pretty funny last night when the whole stadium shithoused the Malmo fans with the clapping 👏 👏👏🔴🌳🥴🥴🥴🥳#NFFC #nffc

@YouBloodyReds: Comfortable win last night, was like a pre-season game mostly. Thoroughly enjoyed the Malmo fans though. What a smashing atmosphere. Pretty sure the chap with the megaphone didn’t watch one moment of play 😆

@ErfinderRotwang: Thought the “it’s happening again, you Swedish bastards, it’s happening again” chants were a bit harsh. And did the Malmo fans sing “3-0 to the famous team” at one point? #NFFC

@McLarenSte: Full credit to @Malmo_FF your fans were excellent tonight, they never stopped singing throughout the entire game. They’re a real credit to your away fans.

@SarcasticForest: I usually strongly oppose drums but I fully embraced the atmosphere created by the Malmo fans and enjoyed the different songs they played. Great musicality. Not like the cultured chants we are use to at the city ground like “Henri Lansbury, we think you’re a cunt” #nffc

@rebekkarnold: Fair play to the Malmo fans at the city ground tonight losing 3-0 and they’ve made way more noise than Forest fans tonight.

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