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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the City Ground as Forest followers reveled in a further success against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but the club still cherish those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

This was an event filled with sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving 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 meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant tifo depicted Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and only his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off the back Rösler, the son of former Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league 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 defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and later brought on teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, too.