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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Equally, major shifts have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also present. The two clubs shared a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

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

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 captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Second Goal Seals Dominance

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected aside off the defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, too.