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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the City Ground as Forest fans celebrated another success against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those memories. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned wide off the defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free the defender had previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match long since boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.