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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in another result against Malmö. Much has transpired since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a large tifo, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo depicted Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second outing since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had previously had a strong header smartly saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of thrills, too.