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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the City Ground as Forest followers reveled in a further win against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from then were additionally present. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts 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 Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had previously had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also scored 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 hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match long since boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.