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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the City Ground as Forest supporters reveled in another win against Malmö. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club continue to cherish those memories. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic success in spirit, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an event filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third meeting between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defense captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Goal Seals Control

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off the defender Rösler, the son of former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a strong header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they also scored three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, too.