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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the stadium as Forest fans reveled in another success against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Third Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo depicted Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Jimmy 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 current crop demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, as well.