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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the ground as Forest fans reveled in a further result against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest still cherish those memories. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing reception when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to score his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of excitement, too.