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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club still treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also present. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and company received a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

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

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match long since sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.