Igor Jesus Fires a Brace as The Reds Round Off Europa League Group Stage with Win over Ferencvaros
At a Glance
- Forest were previously qualified to the play-offs.
- A Ferencvaros defender own goal gives hosts a first-half lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts the team in control.
- Striker adds a third with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- James McAtee rounds off a excellent display with a spot-kick.
Igor Jesus scored twice as Nottingham Forest concluded the league phase of the European competition with a convincing triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
The hosts had previously guaranteed a place in the next qualifying round and went into this fixture with a slim possibility of reaching the top eight, although they required several results to fall in their favor.
Those results failed to materialize but this assured performance will give the supporters belief that their team can navigate the home-and-away tie to reach the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the upright with a header inside the opening stages for the visitors – who are managed by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from then on.
They broke the deadlock in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by the defender and added a second shortly after – the striker squeezing a shot in at the back post for his 10th goal of the season.
The forward's 11th arrived soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to escape the backline and then place a shot past the shot-stopper.
That goal ended Ferencvaros' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the impressive James McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a infringement by the unfortunate Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the scoreline, there was that feel about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the entire team," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"This is another step, but it is a good step."
Forest Analysis: Jesus Catches Eye as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Jesus has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest in European competition this season with six of his 11 goals scored 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 the forward line could be spurring him on.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was watching this match from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on the striker's mind as he was impressive against Ferencvaros, producing two superb finishes and overall being a menace to the visitors' defence with his pace and runs.
The forward was not alone in impressing, with James McAtee producing his finest display in a Forest jersey since joining from Manchester City last summer, while Dan Ndoye also impressed.
These encouraging performances will give Forest some renewed optimism as they switch focus to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday.
"All you can ask for is a reaction," continued the manager.
"I have always trusted their commitment or their dedication or integrity. It is just about displaying your ability.
"James was excellent and Dan was incredibly lively. Jesus got another two and these are good signs."
Star Performer
Number: 19 The Striker
Average rating: 9.10
Forest Top Players
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.10
- #24: Rating 8.8
- #22: Rating 8.63
- I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.9
The Visitors Notable Players
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.14
- #66: Average Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.1
After the opportunity to submit ratings has closed, the rating displayed is the average from all the submissions.
