Igor Jesus Fires a Brace as The Reds Round Off Europa League Group Stage with Win over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the knockout round.
- A Ferencvaros defender deflection gives hosts a first-half lead.
- Igor Jesus' fifth goal in Europe puts the team in control.
- Striker nets again with a sharp finish in the latter period.
- The midfielder rounds off a great performance with a spot-kick.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest concluded the group stage of the Europa League with a convincing win against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had previously guaranteed a berth in the knockout round play-offs and went into this fixture with a small chance of making the top eight, although they required several results to go their way.
That did not happen but this confident display will give the supporters belief that their team can come through the home-and-away tie to advance to the round of sixteen.
Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the post with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – who are managed by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from then on.
They broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead shortly after – the striker squeezing a shot in at the back post for his 10th goal of the season.
Jesus' eleventh goal came soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to escape the defence and then drive an effort beyond the goalkeeper.
That goal killed off Ferencvaros' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the impressive James McAtee converted a penalty after a foul by the unfortunate Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on the winger.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off draw takes place on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Forest might face either Fenerbahce or the Greek club.
"It's more than the scoreline, there was that feel about it. I want these guys to do collectively well, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"This is another step, but it is a good step."
Team Breakdown: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Watches On
Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in Europe this season with half of his eleven strikes scored in the tournament.
This double also means he has got a trio of strikes in his previous two outings and the prospect of a challenge for his position in the forward line could be providing motivation.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was watching this match from the stands.
That may well have been on the striker's thoughts as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, producing two superb finishes and generally being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his pace and movement.
Jesus was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Forest jersey since joining from the champions in the previous transfer window, while Dan Ndoye also impressed.
These encouraging performances 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 Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a response," added Dyche.
"I've never questioned their commitment or their loyalty or integrity. It is just about displaying your ability.
"James was very good and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Igor got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
#19 The Striker
Average rating: 9.10
Forest Key Performers
- #19: Rating 9.10
- #24: Rating 8.75
- #22: Rating 8.63
- I. Sangaré: Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.14
- #66: Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.1
Once the chance to submit ratings has closed, the rating displayed is the mean from all the votes.
