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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the City Ground as Forest fans celebrated another success against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s winning header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but the club still treasure those memories. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and securing a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

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 needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning display depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, as well. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, too, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, lofting a delicious ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was deflected aside off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City forward Uwe, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they found it hard to match Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. The manager, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he introduced substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the game already boxed off and subsequently brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.