Forest's Striker Fires Twice as Nottingham Forest Round Off European Group Stage with Win over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were already through to the play-offs.
- A Ferencvaros defender deflection gives hosts a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts Forest in command.
- Forward adds a third with a sharp finish in the latter period.
- The midfielder rounds off a excellent performance with a penalty.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest concluded the league phase of the Europa League with a convincing win against Ferencvaros 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 top eight, although they needed several results to go their way.
That did not happen but this assured performance will give Forest fans confidence that their team can navigate the home-and-away tie to advance to the last 16.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the upright with a header inside the opening stages for the away team – who are managed by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from then on.
Forest opened the scoring in the early stages when Ryan Yates' cross was deflected in by the defender and doubled the lead shortly after – Jesus 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 shot-stopper.
The third strike killed off Ferencvaros' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent McAtee scored from a penalty after a foul by the hapless Bence Otvos inside the box on the winger.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off lottery is scheduled on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Forest might face either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It's more than the scoreline, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these guys to do collectively well, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a positive step."
Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as New Signing Watches On
Igor Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in European competition this season with half of his eleven strikes scored in the tournament.
This double also means he has scored three goals in his previous two outings and the threat of a challenge for his place in attack could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week signed on loan and he was watching this match from the stands.
That may well have been on the striker's mind as he was outstanding against the opposition, delivering two superb finishes and generally being a constant threat to the opposition backline with his speed and movement.
The forward was not the only one in impressing, with James McAtee producing his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from the champions last summer, while the Swiss international also impressed.
These encouraging performances will give the club some fresh hope as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on the weekend.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," added Dyche.
"I've never questioned their commitment or their dedication or honesty. It is just go and show your quality.
"James was excellent and Dan Ndoye was incredibly lively. Igor got another couple and these are good signs."
Star Performer
Number: 19 Igor Jesus
Average rating: 9.10
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Average Rating 9.1
- #24: Average Rating 8.75
- R. Yates: Rating 8.6
- I. Sangaré: Rating 8.0
- #31: Average Rating 7.94
The Visitors Notable Players
- #11: Average Rating 4.14
- #66: Rating 4.1
- #16: Rating 4.09
Once the chance to rate players has ended, the rating shown represents the average from all the votes.
