Igor Jesus Scores Twice as Nottingham Forest Conclude Europa League Campaign with Victory over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were already through to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives hosts a first-half lead.
- Igor Jesus' fifth goal in Europe puts the team in command.
- Forward adds a third with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- James McAtee rounds off a excellent performance with a spot-kick.
The Brazilian attacker scored twice as the Premier League side rounded off the group stage of the European competition with a comfortable win against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had already secured a place in the knockout round play-offs and entered this fixture with a slim possibility of making the league's elite, although they needed other matches to go their way.
Those results failed to materialize but this assured display will give the supporters belief that their side can come through the home-and-away tie to advance to the last 16.
Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the upright with a header inside the first 10 minutes for the away team – who are managed by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from then on.
Forest broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Ryan Yates' cross was deflected in by the defender and added a second shortly after – the striker firing an effort in at the far post for his tenth strike of the campaign.
The forward's eleventh goal arrived soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to break clear of the backline and then place a shot past the goalkeeper.
The third strike ended Ferencvaros' hopes of making a comeback and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee scored from a penalty after a infringement by the unfortunate Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off draw takes place on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the result, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another stride forward, but it is a good one."
Forest Analysis: Jesus Catches Eye as New Signing Watches On
Igor Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in European competition this season with six of his 11 goals scored in the tournament.
This double also means he has scored three goals in his last two games and the threat of a challenge for his position in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was watching this game from the stands.
That may well have been on the striker's mind as he was impressive against the opposition, delivering two superb goals and generally being a constant threat to the opposition backline with his pace and movement.
Jesus was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from Manchester City last summer, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.
Such positive showings will give the club some fresh hope as they turn their attention to increasing the gap from the bottom three when they host their London rivals on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," added Dyche.
"I've never questioned their work ethic or their dedication or integrity. It is just go and show your ability.
"James was very good and Dan was super sharp. Jesus got another two and these are good signs."
Star Performer
#19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.10
Forest Top Players
- #19: Rating 9.10
- J. McAtee: Rating 8.75
- R. Yates: Rating 8.6
- #6: Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Notable Players
- #11: Average Rating 4.1
- #66: Average Rating 4.1
- #16: Average Rating 4.1
After the opportunity to rate players has ended, the rating displayed represents the average from all the votes.
