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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the City Ground as Forest followers reveled in another result against Malmö. Much has happened since Francis's winning header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but the club still treasure those memories. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team looking refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo showed Brian Clough watching events beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender 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.

Second Goal Seals Dominance

The scorer was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from close range. McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off the back Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header smartly saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already boxed off and later brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, as well.