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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the City Ground as Forest supporters celebrated a further result against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest still treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

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

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from then were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide 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 first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they additionally scored three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.