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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in another result against Malmö. Much has transpired since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – 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 all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real tension or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion filled with sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his first goal since March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic also previously had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It proved a flawless night for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game long since boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.