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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another win against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Third Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across all competitions and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of the club's historic success in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were additionally in attendance. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Another Strike Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a volley stopped, 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 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless night for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match long since sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.