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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in a further win against Malmö. Much has transpired since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but the club continue to cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third consecutive win across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in name, the game itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion filled with sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were also present. The two clubs shared a meal together before the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed half of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an effort off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who finished with his right foot from just inside the box to register his first goal since March.

Second Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

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

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match long since sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.