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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters reveled in a further result against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup back in the year 1979, but Forest still cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and earning a convincing win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from then were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the box to score his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

Yates was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of former Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had earlier had a powerful header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's intensity. 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 Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they also scored three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match long since sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.