Igor Jesus Fires a Brace as The Reds Round Off Europa League Group Stage with Victory over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the knockout round.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives hosts a opening period lead.
- The striker's European strike puts the team in control.
- Forward adds a third with a sharp finish in the latter period.
- 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 league phase of the European competition with a convincing 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 slim possibility of making the top eight, even though they needed other matches to fall in their favor.
That did not happen but this confident display will give Forest fans belief that their team can navigate the two-legged play-off to advance to the round of sixteen.
Kristoffer Zachariassen struck the post with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – coached by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from that point forward.
They opened the scoring in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead shortly after – Jesus firing an effort in at the back post for his tenth strike of the campaign.
Jesus' eleventh goal came early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to break clear of the defence and then place a shot past the shot-stopper.
The third strike killed off the visitors' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts added a fourth when the impressive McAtee scored from a penalty after a infringement by the unfortunate Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition qualifying round lottery is scheduled on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Forest might face either the Turkish side or the Greek club.
"It is not just the result, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these players to do collectively well, the whole squad," said manager Sean Dyche.
"This is another step, but it is a positive one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as New Signing Watches On
Jesus has been a standout performer for 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 last two games and the threat of a challenge for his place in the forward line could be providing motivation.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was watching this game from the stands.
That may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was impressive against the opposition, producing two excellent finishes and generally being a menace to the opposition backline with his pace and runs.
Jesus was not alone in impressing, with James McAtee producing his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.
These encouraging performances will give the club some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the bottom three when they welcome their London rivals on Sunday.
"All you can ask for is a reaction," continued the manager.
"I've never questioned their commitment or their dedication or honesty. It is just about displaying your quality.
"James was excellent and Dan was incredibly lively. Igor got another couple and these are good signs."
Star Performer
#19 Igor Jesus
Average rating: 9.10
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- #19: Average Rating 9.1
- #24: Average Rating 8.75
- #22: Rating 8.6
- I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.0
- #31: Average Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.1
- #66: Average Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Rating 4.1
Once the chance to rate players has closed, the score shown is the mean from all the submissions.
