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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in a further success against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup in 1979, but Forest still treasure those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking refreshed and earning a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic success in spirit, 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 European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were also present. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour 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,” read half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display showed Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to score his first goal since March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off Malmö back Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they additionally scored three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game already sewn up and later introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.