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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an event dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally present. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

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 Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Second Goal Confirms Control

The scorer was implicated in the team's next 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 loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned aside off Malmö back Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe, and an free Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard 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 corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game already boxed off and later introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.