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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the ground as Forest followers reveled in a further success against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those memories. Similarly, major shifts have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off the defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.