Igor Jesus Scores a Brace as The Reds Round Off European Campaign with Win over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- Forest were previously qualified to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives Nottingham Forest a first-half lead.
- The striker's European strike puts the team in control.
- Forward nets again with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- The midfielder caps a excellent display with a penalty.
The Brazilian attacker found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest rounded off the group stage of the European competition with a comfortable win against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
The hosts had previously guaranteed a place in the next qualifying round and went into this game with a small chance of making the league's elite, even though they needed other matches to go their way.
Those results failed to materialize but this confident display will give the supporters belief that their team can come through the two-legged play-off to advance to the last 16.
Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the upright with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – who are managed by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from that point forward.
Forest opened the scoring in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by the defender and doubled the lead shortly after – Jesus firing an effort in at the far post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
The forward's 11th came soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the defence and then place a shot past the shot-stopper.
That goal killed off the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the impressive McAtee scored from a penalty after a infringement by the hapless Otvos inside the box on the winger.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Nottingham Forest might face either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the result, there was that feel 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 positive step."
Forest Analysis: Jesus Catches Eye as New Signing Observes from Stands
Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Forest in European competition this term with six of his eleven strikes coming in the Europa League.
This double also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his last two games and the threat of competition for his place in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was observing this match from the directors' box.
That may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, producing two excellent finishes and generally being a menace to the opposition backline with his pace and movement.
The forward was not alone in impressing, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Forest jersey since joining from Manchester City last summer, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.
Such positive showings will give the club some fresh hope as they switch focus to increasing the gap from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," added Dyche.
"I've never questioned their work ethic or their loyalty or integrity. It is just about displaying your ability.
"McAtee was excellent and Dan was super sharp. Jesus got another two and these are good signs."
Star Performer
Number: 19 The Striker
Average rating: 9.1
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.1
- #24: Average Rating 8.75
- #22: Rating 8.63
- I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94
The Visitors Notable Players
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.1
- #66: Average Rating 4.1
- K. Zachariassen: Rating 4.09
After the opportunity to submit ratings has ended, the score shown represents the mean from all the submissions.
