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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated another success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest still cherish those memories. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort off target inside the opening moments and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own academy product captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to score his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off the defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free the defender had earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game long since sewn up and later introduced teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.