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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another result against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy 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.

The home side leaned into the history, honoring the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the squads came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display depicted Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second appearance since September, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off the back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier 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 the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game long since sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of excitement, too.