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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed around the stadium as Forest supporters celebrated a further result against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still hold dear those memories. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

It proved to be an event filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive display 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 banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was implicated in the team's next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header parried by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned aside off the back Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, 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 domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are able of producing of excitement, too.