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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the stadium as Forest supporters celebrated a further success against Malmö. Much has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team appearing reinvigorated and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Straight Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight win across all competitions and further built on the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an event dripping in sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were also present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the rest was unfurled as the players emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display depicted Clough observing events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to register his first goal since last March.

Second Goal Confirms Control

The scorer was involved in Forest’s second goal on the verge of the interval, too, his free header parried by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö back Rösler, the son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. 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 volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match already boxed off and later introduced teenage full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of thrills, as well.