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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the ground as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated a further success against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those memories. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing refreshed and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive win across all competitions and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed half of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning display depicted Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected aside off the back Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the match already boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.