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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further success against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest still cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

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

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also present. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the squads came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 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 seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to register his first goal since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off the defender Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also earlier had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match long since sewn up and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of producing of thrills, as well.