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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated another win against Malmö. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy in the year 1979, but Forest still treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

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

Forest leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second stunning display showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

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

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game long since boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.