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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed through the ground as Forest fans reveled in another win against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those memories. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

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

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display depicted Clough watching events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the Malmö defence led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the box to register his first goal since March.

Second Goal Seals Control

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and only his second outing since September, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö back Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also previously had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch 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 rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and later introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.