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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated a further result against Malmö. Much has happened since Francis's winning header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish 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 added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant tension or jitters.

It proved to be an event dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display showed Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off the back Colin Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.