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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further win against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

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

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were also present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Goal Seals Control

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected aside off Malmö back Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game long since boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, too.