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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in another success against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Similarly, major changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

This was an event dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third meeting between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Seals Control

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second appearance since September, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off the back Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an free the defender also previously had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender 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 ambitious shot wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game already sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.