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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in a further success against Malmö. A great deal has transpired since Francis's decisive header secured the European Cup in 1979, but Forest continue to cherish those glorious moments. Equally, significant changes have occurred in the five weeks since the manager assumed control, with the team appearing refreshed and earning a comfortable victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of advancing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Another Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this result – against a Malmö side that had not played for nearly a month after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the positive energy gained from last weekend’s stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a reminder of the club's European Cup triumph in name, the encounter itself was free of any real jeopardy or jitters.

This was an event filled with sentiment, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the showpiece event 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the history, honoring the legends of that era by giving them, along with their visiting opponents, the red-carpet treatment. Thirteen members of the Malmö's squad from then were also in attendance. The two clubs shared a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Forest legends and their teammates received a rousing reception when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the home stand.

Recalling the Past

“30th May 1979, Robertson crossed it in from the left flank,” displayed half of a large tifo, in capital letters. While no one required a reminder of what ensued, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second brilliant display depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a bench at the Munich stadium.

Dominance from the Outset

So, the hosts had soaked up those beautiful memories, but what about the performance on the night? It was pretty good, too. They were in full command from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside the opening moments and built a 2-0 lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to the club as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product captain, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home centre-back Nikola Milenkovic saw a cross cannon off a defender and into the path of the midfielder, who finished with his right foot from just inside the penalty area to register his maiden strike since March.

Another Goal Confirms Control

Yates was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of the interval, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from point-blank range. James McAtee, the midfielder handed a seldom start and only his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards his teammate at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was deflected wide off the defender Rösler, son of former Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic also previously had a strong header smartly repelled by Ellborg, who was back in place of the ex- Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was Malmö’s first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan concluded on November 9th, and they found it hard to equal the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch 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.

Forest then pushed for more, with the winger chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort off target from distance. It was that kind of nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at their ground last weekend, when they also netted three times, though he called on substitutes and further fresh legs during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the match long since boxed off and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends supplying “bits of gold” at weekly get-togethers and, almost five decades on, the present squad showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, as well.