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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the stadium as Forest fans celebrated another result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but the club still treasure those memories. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an event filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed half of a large banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected aside off the defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and later introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of thrills, too.