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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the City Ground as Forest followers celebrated a further win against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third consecutive win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

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

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected wide off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match already sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.