Igor Jesus Scores Twice as The Reds Conclude Europa League Group Stage with Victory over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were already through to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos own goal gives hosts a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts the team in command.
- Striker adds a third with a sharp finish in the second half.
- James McAtee caps a excellent performance with a spot-kick.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as the Premier League side rounded off the league phase of the Europa League with a comfortable triumph against Ferencvaros at the City Ground.
Forest had already secured a place in the knockout round play-offs and went into this game with a small chance of making the league's elite, although they required several results to go their way.
That did not happen but this confident display will give Forest fans belief that their team can come through the home-and-away tie to advance to the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the post with a header inside the opening stages for the away team – who are managed by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from that point forward.
They broke the deadlock in the early stages when Ryan Yates' cross was turned into his own net by Bence Otvos and added a second four minutes later – the striker firing an effort in at the far post for his tenth strike of the season.
Jesus' eleventh goal arrived soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the defence and then drive an effort past the goalkeeper.
The third strike ended the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest scored again when the impressive McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a infringement by the hapless Bence Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off lottery takes place on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the scoreline, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"This is another stride forward, but it is a positive one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Jesus has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest in Europe this term with half of his 11 goals scored in the Europa League.
His brace also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his last two games and the threat of a challenge for his place in attack could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week signed on loan and he was watching this game from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on the striker's thoughts as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, delivering two excellent finishes and overall being a constant threat to the opposition backline with his speed and movement.
The forward was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while the Swiss international 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 their London rivals on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," continued the manager.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their loyalty or honesty. It is just go and show your ability.
"McAtee was very good and Dan was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Star Performer
Number: 19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.10
Forest Top Players
- #19: Rating 9.1
- J. McAtee: Average Rating 8.75
- R. Yates: Rating 8.6
- #6: Rating 8.0
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.9
Ferencváros Notable Players
- #11: Average Rating 4.1
- #66: Rating 4.1
- #16: Rating 4.1
Once the chance to submit ratings has ended, the score shown is the mean from all the votes.