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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the stadium as Forest fans reveled in a further result against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a reminder of the club's European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

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

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second stunning display showed Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence led by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Another Goal Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

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

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could withdraw the defender with the match already boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the club legends providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.