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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in another result against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but Forest still cherish those memories. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

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

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing reception when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second stunning tifo showed Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

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

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Another Strike Seals Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match long since sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of thrills, too.