Forest's Striker Scores a Brace as The Reds Round Off Europa League Group Stage with Win over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the knockout round.
- A Ferencvaros defender own goal gives hosts a first-half lead.
- The striker's European strike puts Forest in control.
- Forward nets again with a clinical effort in the second half.
- James McAtee rounds off a excellent performance with a penalty.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as the Premier League side rounded off the group stage of the Europa League with a convincing triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had previously guaranteed a place in the next qualifying round and entered this fixture with a slim possibility of reaching the league's elite, although they required several results to fall in their favor.
That did not happen but this confident display will give Forest fans confidence that their side can navigate the home-and-away tie to reach the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the post with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – who are managed by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from that point forward.
Forest opened the scoring in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by Bence Otvos and added a second four minutes later – the striker firing an effort in at the back post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
The forward's eleventh goal arrived early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the defence and then place a shot past the goalkeeper.
That goal ended the visitors' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a foul by the unfortunate Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off lottery takes place on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Forest might face either the Turkish side or the Greek club.
"It is not just the scoreline, there was that feel about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"That was another stride forward, but it is a good step."
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Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest in European competition this term with six of his 11 goals coming in the Europa League.
His brace also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his previous two outings and the prospect of a challenge for his position in attack could be providing motivation.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was observing this match from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, producing two excellent goals and generally being a menace to the visitors' defence with his speed and runs.
Jesus was not the only one in impressing, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while the Swiss international also impressed.
Such positive showings will give Forest some renewed optimism as they switch focus to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on the weekend.
"The minimum requirement is a response," continued Dyche.
"I have always trusted their commitment or their dedication or honesty. It is just go and show your ability.
"James was very good and Dan Ndoye was incredibly lively. Jesus got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
#19 Igor Jesus
Average rating: 9.1
Nottingham Forest Top Players
- #19: Rating 9.1
- #24: Average Rating 8.75
- R. Yates: Average Rating 8.6
- #6: Rating 8.01
- #31: Rating 7.94
The Visitors Notable Players
- #11: Rating 4.14
- #66: Average Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Rating 4.09
Once the chance to submit ratings has closed, the score displayed is the average from all the submissions.
