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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated a further result against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Win

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing sixth in their home competition – represented a third straight win across all competitions and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic success in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or jitters.

This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive clash between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the history, honoring 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 in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo depicted Brian Clough observing events beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was strong, as well. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. 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 the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the Malmö defense led by their own academy product captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who swept home with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to score his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was involved in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header saved by the goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the rebound from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off the defender Colin Rösler, the son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free Milenkovic also previously had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the leftovers.

Forest then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was that kind of nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at their ground recently, when they also netted three times, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a hiccup-free night for Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match long since boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of producing of thrills, too.