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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another win against Malmö. Much has transpired since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest still cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's historic success in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together before the match. Forest legends and company were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second stunning display depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Second Goal Seals Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned wide off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they additionally scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game already sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, as well.