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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the stadium as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated another success against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after finishing sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's historic success in name, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from then were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically impressive display was shown in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an effort off target inside two minutes and built a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off Malmö defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header smartly saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from distance. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match already sewn up and later introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of producing of excitement, as well.