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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another result against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club still cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing reinvigorated and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Straight Victory

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 win across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a meal together before the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing reception when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another brilliant display showed Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path 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 Dominance

Yates was involved in the team's next goal on the brink of the interval, as well, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the midfielder given a seldom start and just his second appearance since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected aside off Malmö back Rösler, the son of former Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the match already boxed off and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back 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 current crop demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, too.