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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further win against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest still treasure those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion filled with sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display depicted Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside the opening moments and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to score his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off Malmö back Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.