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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the ground as Forest followers celebrated a further result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has transpired since Trevor Francis’s winning header clinched the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche assumed control, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Straight Victory

For Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their home competition – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained 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 free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an occasion filled with sentiment, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third clash between the teams since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the heritage, honoring the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically superb tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” read one part of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second stunning tifo depicted Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt wide inside two minutes and established a two-goal lead by the break. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own homegrown skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to register his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Confirms Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward poised to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second appearance since September, was the spark, lofting a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s low effort was turned aside off the defender Colin Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe, and an free the defender also previously had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then went for the jugular, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, aware of the upcoming domestic fixture here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the final period.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop showed they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, as well.