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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated a further success against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but the club still treasure those memories. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across every tournament and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a large banner, in block capitals. 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 display showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, 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 defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they additionally scored three times, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and later brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.