Forest's Striker Scores a Brace as Nottingham Forest Round Off European Group Stage with Win over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were already through to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos own goal gives Nottingham Forest a first-half lead.
- The striker's fifth goal in Europe puts Forest in command.
- Striker adds a third with a clinical effort in the second half.
- The midfielder caps a excellent performance with a penalty.
The Brazilian attacker scored twice as the Premier League side rounded off the league phase of the European competition with a convincing triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had previously guaranteed a place in the next qualifying round and went into this fixture with a small chance of making the league's elite, even though they needed several results to go their way.
That did not happen but this confident performance will give Forest fans belief that their team can navigate the two-legged play-off to reach the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the upright with a header inside the opening stages for the visitors – coached by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from that point forward.
Forest opened the scoring in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by Bence Otvos and added a second shortly after – the striker firing an effort in at the back post for his tenth strike of the season.
Jesus' eleventh goal came soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to escape the backline and then place a shot beyond the goalkeeper.
That goal ended the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest scored again when the impressive McAtee converted a penalty after a foul by the hapless Otvos inside the penalty area on the winger.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off draw takes place on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Forest could be drawn against either Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the result, there was that feel about it. I want these players to do collectively well, the whole squad," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a positive step."
Team Breakdown: Striker Shines as New Signing Watches On
Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Forest in European competition this season with six of his eleven strikes coming in the Europa League.
This double also means he has got a trio of strikes in his previous two outings and the threat of a challenge for his place in attack could be spurring him on.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was watching this game from the directors' box.
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.
The forward was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his best performance in a Forest jersey since joining from Manchester City last summer, while the Swiss international also impressed.
Such positive showings will give the club some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to increasing the gap from the bottom three when they welcome their London rivals on the weekend.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," added Dyche.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their dedication or integrity. It is just go and show your ability.
"McAtee was very good and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Igor got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Star Performer
#19 Igor Jesus
Average rating: 9.10
Forest Top Players
- #19: Average Rating 9.1
- #24: Average Rating 8.8
- #22: Average Rating 8.63
- #6: Average Rating 8.01
- #31: Rating 7.9
The Visitors Notable Players
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.1
- #66: Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.1
Once the chance to rate players has closed, the score shown represents the average from all the submissions.
