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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in a further result against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club continue to treasure those memories. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight win across all competitions and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the match. Forest legends and company received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the path of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Seals Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off the defender Colin Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless night for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and later brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.