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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the City Ground as Nottingham Forest fans reveled in a further result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but the club continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, significant shifts have taken place in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in name, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

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

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the heroes of that era by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb display was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo depicted Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the break. 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 as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, previously of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the pathway of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to register his first goal since March.

Second Goal Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound 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 back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off the back Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header instinctively repelled by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to equal the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley blocked, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

Forest then went for the jugular, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Night for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw Murillo with the game long since boxed off and subsequently introduced teenage defender Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.