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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated a further win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight win across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

This was an event filled with sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were also present. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second stunning display showed Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in 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 Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to score his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the spark, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected wide off the back Rösler, the son of former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked 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.

Malmö’s Difficulties

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

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs during the final period.

Smooth Night for the Team

It proved a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.