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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated a further success against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club continue to cherish those memories. Similarly, major changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally in attendance. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates received a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display depicted Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of excitement, too.