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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the City Ground as Forest fans celebrated a further win against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Francis's winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and earning a comfortable win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup success in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or jitters.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also present. The two clubs shared a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough watching events beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to score his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö back Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground recently, when they additionally scored three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match long since sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, too.