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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club still treasure those memories. Equally, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally present. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked the defender had earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match long since sewn up and later brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.