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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in a further win against Malmö. Much has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic success in name, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were additionally present. Both teams shared a meal together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo depicted Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

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

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless night for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, too.