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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans celebrated a further success against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but the club still hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have occurred in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing reinvigorated and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – marked a third consecutive triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an event dripping in sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from then were additionally in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together before the match. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display showed Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired 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 off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Seals Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the verge of the interval, as well, his free header parried by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off the back Rösler, son of former Man City striker Uwe, and an unmarked the defender also previously had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie 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 the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless night for Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match already sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are capable of producing of excitement, as well.