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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the ground as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated another win against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest still cherish those memories. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the momentum gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

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

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a large banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display depicted Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and built a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an free the defender had previously had a strong header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they additionally netted three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the game already boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.