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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest followers celebrated another success against Malmö. Much has happened since Francis's winning header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and earning a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an event dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the match. Forest legends and their teammates received a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the squads came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display showed Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was pretty good, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off the back Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City forward Uwe, and an free the defender had earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to match Forest’s intensity. The Reds made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they additionally scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game long since sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage defender 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 demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.