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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated another result against Malmö. Much has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup back in the year 1979, but the club continue to treasure those memories. Similarly, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third straight win across every tournament and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's historic triumph in name, the game itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo depicted Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected aside off the defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had earlier had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of thrills, as well.