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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the ground as Forest fans celebrated another result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still treasure those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight win across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s historic success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also in attendance. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display depicted Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Second Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off the back Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of thrills, too.