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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further result against their Swedish opponents. Much has occurred since Francis's winning header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those memories. Similarly, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

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

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Second Goal Seals Control

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

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

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game already boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.