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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the stadium as Forest followers celebrated a further win against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest still cherish those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

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

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also present. Both teams shared a dinner together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning display depicted Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off the defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game long since boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of thrills, too.