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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the City Ground as Forest fans reveled in another result against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup back in the year 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those memories. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench 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, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header saved by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off the defender Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.