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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another win against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup back in the year 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together before the kick-off. 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 typically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Seals Control

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header saved by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the game already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.