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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in a further result against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in the year 1979, but the club continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team looking reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Momentum with Third Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's historic success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were also present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning display depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Seals Control

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header saved by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the rebound from point-blank range. James 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 far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header smartly saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already boxed off and later brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of thrills, too.