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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the ground as Forest supporters reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. Much has transpired since Francis's winning header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Equally, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Momentum with Third Consecutive Victory

For Forest, this performance – against a Swedish side that had been inactive for nearly a month after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and further built on the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup success in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any real jeopardy or jitters.

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

The home side fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Malmö's team from that time were also in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a dinner together before the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a typically superb display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left,” read one part of a large banner, in capital letters. While nobody required a reminder of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the squads emerged from the tunnel. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those wonderful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was impressive, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an attempt off target inside two minutes and established a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header wide and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who swept home right-footed from the edge of the penalty area to score his first goal since last March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was involved in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but Kalimuendo on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the spark, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected wide off Malmö back Rösler, the son of former Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an free the defender also earlier had a strong header instinctively saved by Ellborg, who was back in place of the former Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on 9 November, and they found it hard to equal Forest’s intensity. Forest made it 3-0 when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo headed back a corner. Yates had a volley blocked, but the Serbia centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from distance. It was that kind of evenings. The manager, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three times, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Smooth Night for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the game long since sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He discussed the Forest old guard providing “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the present squad showed they are able of producing of excitement, too.