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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the ground as Forest followers reveled in a further success against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major shifts have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into the history, honoring the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally present. Both teams shared a dinner together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” displayed half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display showed Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his first goal since March.

Another Goal Seals Control

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they additionally scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of producing of excitement, too.