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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Forest fans celebrated a further win against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and further built on the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

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 complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to score his first goal since last March.

Another Goal Seals Dominance

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match long since sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, too.