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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in a further win against Malmö. Much has transpired since Francis's winning header secured the European Cup in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those memories. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, 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. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing reception when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts 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 whistled an effort wide 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 Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and later introduced teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.