Igor Jesus Scores a Brace as The Reds Conclude Europa League Group Stage with Victory over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- Forest were already through to the knockout round.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives hosts a opening period lead.
- The striker's European strike puts the team in control.
- Striker nets again with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- James McAtee rounds off a great performance with a spot-kick.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest rounded off the league phase of the European competition with a comfortable win against Ferencvaros at the home stadium.
The hosts had previously guaranteed a place in the next qualifying round and went into this fixture with a slim possibility of making the league's elite, even though they needed several results to fall in their favor.
Those results failed to materialize but this confident display will give Forest fans belief that their team can navigate the two-legged play-off to reach the round of sixteen.
Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the post with a header inside the opening stages for the visitors – who are managed by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from that point forward.
Forest broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by the defender and added a second shortly after – the striker firing an effort in at the back post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
The forward's 11th arrived early in the second half when he timed a run perfectly to escape the backline and then place a shot beyond the shot-stopper.
That goal killed off Ferencvaros' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee scored from a penalty after a infringement by the hapless Bence Otvos inside the box on the winger.
Europe's secondary club competition qualifying round draw is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Forest could be drawn against either Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos.
"It's more than the scoreline, there was that feel about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"That was another stride forward, but it is a positive one."
Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Igor Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in Europe this term with six of his eleven strikes coming in the tournament.
His brace also means he has got three goals in his previous two outings and the prospect of a challenge for his place in the forward line could be providing motivation.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was observing this game from the stands.
That may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was impressive against the opposition, producing two excellent goals and generally being a constant threat to the opposition backline with his speed and runs.
Jesus was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Forest jersey since signing from the champions last summer, while Dan Ndoye also impressed.
Such positive showings will give the club 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 reaction," continued the manager.
"I've never questioned their commitment or their dedication or integrity. It is just go and show your quality.
"James was very good and Dan was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
#19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.10
Forest Top Players
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.1
- J. McAtee: Average Rating 8.75
- R. Yates: Rating 8.6
- I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- #11: Average Rating 4.1
- JĂşlio RomĂŁo: Rating 4.1
- K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.1
Once the chance to rate players has ended, the score displayed is the average from all the submissions.
