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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the City Ground as Forest followers reveled in a further result against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Francis's decisive header clinched the continental trophy back in 1979, but Forest continue to hold dear those glorious moments. Equally, major changes have occurred in the weeks since the manager took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a convincing victory thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their hopes of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their domestic league – marked a third straight triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s European Cup triumph in name, the game itself was free of any real tension or jitters.

This was an occasion dripping in sentiment, an longed-for meeting and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event over four decades past.

Forest fully embraced the history, paying tribute to the legends of 1979 by giving them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. Thirteen members of the Swedish club’s team from that time were additionally in attendance. The two clubs enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates received a rousing welcome when they assembled on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically superb tifo was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, John Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a giant tifo, in block capitals. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was unfurled as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. A second brilliant tifo showed Brian Clough observing proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the evening? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment the forward fired an effort wide 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 first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defense led by their own homegrown captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a opponent and into the path of Yates, who finished with his right foot from the edge of the box to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Goal Confirms Control

Yates was involved in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, as well, his free header parried by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to convert the rebound from close range. McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and just his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was turned wide off Malmö back Rösler, son of former Man City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender also earlier had a strong header smartly repelled by the keeper, who returned in place of the ex- Villa goalie Robin Olsen.

Opponent's Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's first match since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to equal the home team's energy. The Reds made it 3-0 when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic pounced on the leftovers.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an ambitious shot off target from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, implemented multiple alterations from the side that stunned Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, when they also scored three goals, though he introduced Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free night for Nottingham Forest. The coach could take off Murillo with the match already boxed off and later brought on teenage full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.