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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the ground as Forest supporters celebrated a further success against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum generated from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the heroes of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from then were also present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the squads came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Clough observing events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the half-time interval. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defence led by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the box to register his first goal since March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned wide off the defender Rösler, the son of former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also previously had a powerful header smartly saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a flawless evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.