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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Forest followers celebrated a further success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but the club still cherish those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display showed Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Goal Seals Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header smartly saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game already boxed off and later brought on teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.