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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated a further result against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those memories. Equally, major shifts have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company 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 History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his first goal since March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the verge of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected aside off Malmö back Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.