Igor Jesus Fires a Brace as The Reds Conclude European Group Stage with Win over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- Forest were previously qualified to the knockout round.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives hosts a first-half lead.
- The striker's European strike puts the team in control.
- Forward adds a third with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- James McAtee caps a excellent display with a penalty.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as the Premier League side rounded off the league phase of the European competition with a convincing win against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
The hosts had previously guaranteed a place in the knockout round play-offs and entered this game with a slim possibility of reaching the top eight, although they needed several results to go their way.
That did not happen but this assured display will give the supporters belief that their team can navigate the home-and-away tie to advance to the last 16.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the post with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the away team – coached by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from that point forward.
They opened the scoring in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by the defender and added a second four minutes later – the striker squeezing a shot in at the far post for his tenth strike of the season.
The forward's eleventh goal came soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to break clear of the backline and then drive an effort past the shot-stopper.
That goal killed off Ferencvaros' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the impressive McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a infringement by the hapless Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition qualifying round lottery takes place on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest might face either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It's more than the scoreline, there was that feel about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a positive one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Forest in European competition this term with half of his eleven strikes coming in the Europa League.
This double also means he has got three goals in his previous two outings and the prospect of competition for his place in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was watching this match from the stands.
That may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, delivering two superb goals and overall being a menace to the opposition backline with his speed and runs.
The forward was not the only one in catching the eye, with McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from the champions last summer, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.
Such positive showings will give the club some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host their London rivals on the weekend.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," added the manager.
"I've never questioned their work ethic or their loyalty or integrity. It is just go and show your ability.
"James was very good and Dan Ndoye was incredibly lively. Igor got another two and these are positive indicators."
Star Performer
#19 Igor Jesus
Match rating: 9.1
Forest Key Performers
- #19: Rating 9.1
- #24: Rating 8.75
- #22: Rating 8.6
- I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94
The Visitors Ratings
- #11: Rating 4.14
- Júlio Romão: Average Rating 4.1
- K. Zachariassen: Rating 4.09
Once the chance to submit ratings has ended, the rating displayed is the average from all the submissions.
