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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated another win against their Swedish opponents. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup in the year 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – marked a third consecutive win across all competitions and further built on the momentum generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's historic success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the box to register his first goal since last March.

Second Goal Confirms Dominance

The scorer was involved in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and only his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a delicious ball towards Yates at the far post.

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

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It proved a flawless night for Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of producing of excitement, as well.