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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out around the City Ground as Forest fans celebrated a further win against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header clinched the European Cup in 1979, but Forest still treasure those memories. Similarly, major shifts have occurred in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had not played for nearly a month after ending sixth in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and further built on the momentum generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant tension or nerves.

This was an event filled with sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third clash between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest leaned into the history, paying tribute to the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” displayed half of a giant banner, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was revealed as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo showed Clough watching events beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and established a 2-0 advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defence captained by their own academy product captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since March.

Another Strike Seals Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s second goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header parried by the shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned wide off the back Colin Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic had earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league ended on 9 November, and they struggled to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an optimistic shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the team that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they also netted three goals, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could withdraw Murillo with the game already sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the club legends supplying “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of producing of thrills, as well.