Igor Jesus Scores a Brace as The Reds Round Off Europa League Campaign with Victory over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- Forest were previously qualified to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos own goal gives Nottingham Forest a first-half lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts Forest in command.
- Forward nets again with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- The midfielder caps a great display with a penalty.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest concluded the league phase of the European competition with a convincing triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had previously guaranteed a berth in the next qualifying round and went into this fixture with a slim possibility of reaching the league's elite, although they needed other matches to fall in their favor.
That did not happen but this confident display will give the supporters confidence that their team can come through the home-and-away tie to reach the round of sixteen.
Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the upright with a headed effort inside the opening stages for the visitors – who are managed by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from then on.
They broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Ryan Yates' cross was turned into his own net by Bence Otvos and added a second four minutes later – the striker squeezing a shot in at the far post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
The forward's eleventh goal arrived soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to escape the defence and then drive an effort beyond the goalkeeper.
That goal ended Ferencvaros' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the excellent McAtee scored from a penalty after a infringement by the unfortunate Bence Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Forest could be drawn against either Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the scoreline, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these guys to do collectively well, the entire team," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"This is another step, but it is a good one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as Recent Arrival Watches On
Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in European competition this term with half of his eleven strikes coming in the tournament.
His brace also means he has got three goals in his last two games and the prospect of a challenge for his position in attack could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was observing this game from the directors' box.
That may well have been on the striker's mind as he was impressive against Ferencvaros, delivering two superb finishes and overall being a menace to the visitors' defence with his pace and movement.
Jesus was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from the champions in the previous transfer window, while Dan Ndoye also impressed.
These encouraging performances will give Forest some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on the weekend.
"All you can ask for is a reaction," continued the manager.
"I have always trusted their commitment or their loyalty or honesty. It is just go and show your quality.
"James was very good and Dan Ndoye was incredibly lively. Igor got another two and these are good signs."
Star Performer
#19 Igor Jesus
Average rating: 9.1
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- #19: Average Rating 9.10
- #24: Rating 8.8
- #22: Average Rating 8.6
- #6: Rating 8.0
- #31: Average Rating 7.9
The Visitors Notable Players
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.14
- Júlio Romão: Rating 4.1
- #16: Average Rating 4.1
After the opportunity to submit ratings has closed, the score shown is the average from all the votes.
