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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the ground as Forest supporters reveled in a further success against Malmö. A great deal has happened since Trevor Francis’s decisive header secured the European Cup in the year 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team looking refreshed and earning a convincing win thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after ending in sixth place in their domestic league – represented a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the positive energy generated from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the game itself was free of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

It proved to be an event filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s squad from then were also in attendance. Both teams enjoyed a meal together prior to the match. Forest legends and their teammates were given a rousing reception when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before the start, and a characteristically superb tifo was shown in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in 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 players emerged from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it stated. Another stunning display showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the showing on the night? It was impressive, 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 wide and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds and Brentford FC. The Forest defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a defender and into the pathway of Yates, who swept home right-footed from just inside the box to register his first goal since last March.

Another Strike Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s second goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the rebound from point-blank range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed 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, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was deflected wide off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender had previously had a powerful header instinctively saved by the keeper, who was back in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender scored after his centre-back partner Murillo kept alive a set-piece. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic feasted 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 ambitious shot wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that surprised Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Night for the Team

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match already sewn up and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Sinclair for his first-team debut. He discussed the club legends providing “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of thrills, too.