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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Forest supporters celebrated another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning tifo showed Brian Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned aside off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. The manager, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of thrills, too.