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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” was chanted through the City Ground as Forest fans reveled in another result against Malmö. Much has happened since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest continue to treasure those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team looking refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Another Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for almost three weeks after ending in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive win across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from last weekend’s success at Liverpool. While this fixture was a re-run of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or nerves.

This was an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive clash between the teams since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the heroes of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally in attendance. Both teams shared a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Remembering the Past

“30th May 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left flank,” read half of a giant tifo, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was unfurled as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another brilliant display showed Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the evening? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo fired an effort off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal advantage by the break. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a opponent and into the pathway of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

Yates was involved in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by the shot-stopper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to convert the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and only his second appearance since the autumn, was the spark, chipping a delicious ball towards his teammate at the back post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned aside off Malmö back Rösler, son of ex- Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender had earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a set-piece. Yates had a shot blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, made multiple alterations from the team that surprised the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he introduced substitutes and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for the Team

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the game already sewn up and later brought on 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.