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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in a further win against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still treasure those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game long since sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.