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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” echoed through the City Ground as Forest followers reveled in another win against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header secured the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those memories. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's historic success in name, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to score his first goal since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected wide off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free the defender had earlier had a powerful header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground recently, when they additionally netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Night for the Team

It proved a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match already boxed off and later introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of thrills, too.