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“Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,” rang out through the stadium as Forest supporters reveled in a further win against Malmö. Much has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the continental trophy in 1979, but the club still cherish those memories. Equally, major changes have taken place in the five weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking reinvigorated and securing a comfortable win courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, enhancing their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had been inactive for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum generated from last weekend’s success at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic triumph in spirit, the game itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited meeting and the third competitive meeting between the teams since the showpiece event over four decades past.

The home side leaned into 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 Swedish club’s squad from then were also present. Both teams shared a meal together before the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a tumultuous welcome when they gathered on the field 15 minutes before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive display was shown in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed one part of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While nobody required a reminder of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning display showed Brian Clough watching events beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those wonderful recollections, but what about the showing on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an effort off target inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It seemed appropriate that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own homegrown captain, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Goal Confirms Control

The scorer was implicated in the team's second goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed 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.

A minute earlier, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off the back Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free the defender also previously had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was Malmö’s initial game since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to match the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. 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 effort on to the bar before Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from distance. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, aware of the upcoming league game here against Brighton, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally scored three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a flawless night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could take off the defender with the match already sewn up and subsequently brought on teenage defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.