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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the City Ground as Forest supporters celebrated a further win against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Equally, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally present. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

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

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected wide off the back Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they additionally scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match already boxed off and later brought on teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.