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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another win against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those memories. Similarly, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by the goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off the back Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked the defender had earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the club legends 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.