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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted around the ground as Forest fans reveled in a further success against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the continental trophy in 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup triumph in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third meeting between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

The home side leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before the start, and a typically superb tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a giant banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward whistled an attempt off target inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to register his first goal since March.

Second Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off the back Rösler, son of former Manchester City striker Uwe, and an free the defender also previously had a powerful header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender scored after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the team that surprised Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match long since boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard providing “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of producing of thrills, too.