Nottinghamshire

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Long-serving commentator Clive Tyldesley has been recalling his early days as a reporter on Nottingham Forest, and revealed the exacting standards of legendary manager Brian Clough.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Sacked in the Morning podcast, Tyldesley recalled his first journey with Forest and how Clough ensured he looked the part.

"It would sound pedantic in 2025!" he said. "It was on the train, the first time I had travelled with the team -the first day of the season on a beautiful August morning - and I arrived first at Nottingham station at 09:00.

"I had my ticket and I was on the train but around 09:15, Cloughie appeared, not in his tracksuit or rugby shirt, but because it was a matchday, Forest used to wear blue blazers with a tie.

"I looked like I had just won the junior medal at a golf club, I had a double-breasted blazer, buttoned-down shirt and shiny shoes. I was really smart, but I didn't have a tie on.

"Cloughie came past and said: 'Good morning, young man, you are very welcome to travel with the Nottingham Forest official party, but when you do, you wear a tie, please'. And I said: 'Sorry, Mr Clough'. But he didn't move.

"Then, I looked up again, and he said: 'Listen, you are very welcome to travel with the Nottingham Forest official party, but when you do, you wear a tie'.

"'As soon as we get to Euston, I'll get a tie,' I said.

"'Young man, you are very welcome to travel with the Nottingham Forest official party, but when you do, you wear a tie.'

"And he put his hands in his pocket and put a £10 note on the table I was sitting at and said: 'Train leaves in 15 minutes'. So literally, I had to run off the platform, and fortunately, the station in Nottingham is quite close to the city centre, and there was a gents outfit that was opening for the day. I threw the £10 note at the guy and pulled a tie from the rack.

"Now I was sweating, but I put it on. He came past again an hour into the journey and said: 'Very smart'."

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Nottingham Forest youngster Jimmy Sinclair said it was a "dream come true" as he made his professional debut against Malmo.

Sinclair, 19, came on in the 84th minute to replace James McAtee in their 3-0 win over the Swedish club.

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham on the experience, Sinclair said: "It's an incredible night, personally a dream come true.

"I think for the fans and the club, it was an incredible night. It was a really good team performance and many more to come.

"It was another dream come true to just be on a bench for a game like this. To get the call and be involved was a special moment."

Listen to his full interview here

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We asked for your thoughts on Nottingham Forest's Europa League match against Malmo.

Here are some of your comments:

Adam: Overall, a really dominant performance. We bullied them in the first half and could have been three or four up by half-time. Second half was a little more subdued. Really pleased for Yatesy getting his first goal in Europe and nice to see Kalimuendo get his first goal - hopefully he can push on now.

Lee: With three wins in a row, Forest are hitting their stride and putting the start of the season behind them. You've got to fancy us for the later stages of the Europa League.

Steve: Forest won't have an easier game for the rest of the season. In fact, they've played tougher pre-season games. Having said that, games have to be won and the squad did just that. Good to see Callum Hudson-Odoi and James McAtee given time on the field, although McAtee needs more of the same to get up to speed. Overall, a commanding squad performance.

Barry: I was at the European Cup final against Malmo when we squeezed a 1-0 victory, so it is with relief that a comfortable 3-0 win should see the Reds through to the next round.

Joel: In a word, comfortable. Never really felt threatened. Good game to get some minutes into the guys who aren't starting in the league and some young prospects. Good to see Kalimuendo get a goal. Hopefully that'll give his confidence a boost.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Nottingham Forest welcomed their heroes of 1979 before Thursday's Europa League win over Malmo.

The squad - and some from Malmo - reunited 46 years since winning the club's first European Cup against the Swedes.

They retained the title 12 months later, etching their names into club folklore even further, and gathered at the City Ground on Thursday to watch the class of 2025-26.

What they saw was one of the most comfortable victories Sean Dyche's side are likely to have all season.

Winning the Europa League was a goal for the club at the start of the season and after a turbulent period they have now settled under Dyche, both domestically and in Europe.

A top-eight place - and automatic qualification for the last 16 - is just two points away so cannot be ruled out.

Trips to Utrecht and Braga await before a final league-phase game at home to Ferencvaros in January.

After four wins from seven games under Dyche, two in Europe, Forest have momentum for the first time this season.

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Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche, speaking to TNT Sports after his side's 3-0 victory over Malmo in the Europa League: "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 break down.

"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. 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."

On Yates scoring on every day of the week for 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."

Hear more from Dyche on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Forest have won three consecutive games, having won just two of their first 15 matches this season (D5 L8).

Nottingham Forest have made enquiries with Polish club Pogon Szczecin regarding the availability of forward Adrian Przyborek, 18. (Teamtalk), external

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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Forest's performance

Come back on Friday for a selection of your replies

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche makes seven changes from their impressive 3-0 win at Liverpool.

John Victor starts in goal as Zach Abbott and Morato are drafted into defence in place of Nicolo Savona and Neco Williams.

Ryan Yates captains the side with James McAtee, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Callum Hudson-Odoi also recalled with Morgan Gibbs-White, who was a doubt, not included.

Nottingham Forest XI: Victor, Morato, Murillo, Milenkovic, Abbott, Sangare, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo

Subs: Sels, Williams, Anderson, Jesus, Ndoye, Boly, Savona, Whitehall, Thompson, Sinclair

Malmo, who finished sixth in the Swedish Allsvenskan, play their first game since their league ended on 9 November.

Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen drops to the bench as Melker Ellborg starts, while ex-West Ham, Celtic and Stoke forward Sead Haksabanovic starts while former Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjonsen's son Daniel is up front.

Malmo are second bottom of the 36-team Europa League table with a point from their opening four games.

Malmo XI: Ellborg, Stryger, Djuric, Jansson, Rosler, Skogmar, Johnsen, Haksabanovic, Busanello, Gudjohnsen, Bolin.

Subs: Olsen, Olsson, Karlsson, Ekong, Lewicki, Christiansen, Vecchia, Busuladzic, Botheim, Soumah, Berg, Lundbergh.

There are 36 games in the Europa League and Conference League on Thursday, including three involving Premier League clubs, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Europa League: Aston Villa v Young Boys (17:45)

• Europa League: Nottingham Forest v Malmo

• Conference League: Strasbourg v Crystal Palace

Kick-off times 20:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Nottingham Forest's historic European Cup triumph over Malmo echoes through the ages, says two-time winning captain John McGovern.

Forest host Malmo in the Europa League on Thursday in a repeat of the 1979 European Cup final.

Trevor Francis' winner earned a 1-0 victory in Munich, just two years after Forest had been in the second tier of English football.

Twelve months later, Brian Clough's side retained the trophy, beating Hamburg 1-0, and McGovern believes their success still makes its mark 46 years on.

"It gives you a warm feeling inside, that you are recognised for something that was so long ago," he told BBC Sport.

"It used to be: 'I used to go and see you' - now it's: 'My dad used to go and see you'. Once it gets to the stage of: 'My grandad used to go and see you', I better think about taking things easy then.

"You didn't know [the scale of what they achieved]. There was no blanket coverage of matches - there was coverage but not to the extent there is now. It's like show business."

So far this season, Forest are 23rd in the Europa League table after beating Porto and drawing 0-0 at Sturm Graz in their past two games. Meanwhile, Malmo have just one point and are second bottom of the 36-team table.

A finish between ninth and 24th would earn Forest a play-off spot as they look to qualify for the last 16.

At the start of the season, winning the Europa League was a realistic target, for both former managers Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou, and McGovern feels they still have a chance.

"You have to go on the present form, we have come through a fantastic win against Liverpool and the players look confident enough," he said.

"[Sean Dyche] inherited a group for players who, in anyone's parlance, are a really good set of lads. He has retained that and tried to educate them a little more about how he'd like them to play.

"He has got them to listen to him and they are playing together as a side. The commitment is there."

Nottingham Forest are determined to hold on to England midfielder Elliot Anderson, 23, and will reject any bids for him during the January transfer window. (Mail), external

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