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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the City Ground as Forest supporters reveled in a further win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking reinvigorated and securing a convincing win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant tifo showed Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off Malmö defender Rösler, son of former Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender also earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.