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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” rang out through the ground as Forest supporters celebrated another result against Malmö. Much has occurred since Francis's winning header secured the European Cup back in 1979, but Forest still treasure those memories. Equally, significant shifts have occurred in the five weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with Forest appearing refreshed and securing a convincing victory courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Yates, and Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the Europa League.

Gaining Steam with Another Consecutive Win

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – 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 further built on the positive energy generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Anfield. While this match was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in name, the encounter itself was devoid of any significant jeopardy or nerves.

This was an event dripping in nostalgia, an eagerly awaited reunion and the third clash between the teams since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

The home side fully embraced the heritage, paying tribute to the legends of that era by providing them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from that time were additionally present. Both teams enjoyed a dinner together prior to the kick-off. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and their teammates were given a tumultuous reception when they gathered on the pitch a quarter of an hour before the start, and a typically superb display was unveiled in the Trent End.

Remembering the Past

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a large banner, in capital letters. While nobody needed reminding of what happened next, the rest was revealed as the players emerged from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it stated. A second stunning display depicted Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his right-hand man Peter 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 showing on the evening? It was pretty good, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an attempt off target inside the opening moments and established a two-goal lead by the break. Nicolás Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his maiden European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who joined the club aged eight, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence led by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, previously of Leeds United and Brentford. The home defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery cannon off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from just inside the box to score his maiden strike since March.

Second Goal Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in Forest’s next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his unmarked header parried by Malmö’s shot-stopper Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the rebound from close range. McAtee, the playmaker handed a seldom start and just his second outing since September, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Hudson-Odoi’s driven shot was turned aside off Malmö defender Rösler, son of ex- Man City striker Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked the defender also earlier had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league ended on November 9th, and they found it hard to match the home team's energy. Forest extended the lead to three when the defender applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a volley stopped, but the Serbian defender Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with the winger dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Sangaré sent an ambitious effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those evenings. Dyche, mindful of Sunday’s domestic fixture here against Brighton, made seven changes from the side that stunned the Reds at their ground recently, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus midway through the second half.

Smooth Evening for Forest

It turned out to be a flawless evening for Forest. The coach could take off the defender with the match long since sewn up and subsequently introduced 19-year-old defender Jimmy Sinclair for his first-team debut. Dyche talked about the Forest old guard supplying “valuable insights” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the current crop demonstrated they are able of a few nuggets of excitement, too.