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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in another success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Francis's winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, major shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight win across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering 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 squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort off target inside the opening moments and built a two-goal lead 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 defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to register his first goal since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off the defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they also scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match long since sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.