Forest's first European Cup resonates through generations - McGovern

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."