Igor Jesus Scores a Brace as Nottingham Forest Conclude European Group Stage with Victory over Ferencvaros
At a Glance
- Forest were already through to the knockout round.
- A Ferencvaros defender deflection gives hosts a first-half lead.
- The striker's European strike puts Forest in command.
- Striker nets again with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- James McAtee caps a excellent display with a penalty.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest rounded off the league phase of the Europa League with a convincing win against Ferencvaros at the City Ground.
The hosts had previously guaranteed a berth in the next qualifying round and entered this game with a small chance of making the top eight, even though they needed other matches to go their way.
That did not happen but this assured performance will give the supporters confidence that their side can navigate the home-and-away tie to advance to the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the upright 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 all Forest from then on.
Forest opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Ryan Yates' cross was deflected in by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead four minutes later – the striker firing an effort in at the far post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
Jesus' eleventh goal arrived soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the defence and then place a shot past the shot-stopper.
That goal ended the visitors' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the excellent McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a foul by the hapless Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Forest might face either the Turkish side or the Greek club.
"It is not just the result, there was that feel about it. I want these players to do collectively well, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a positive step."
Forest Analysis: Jesus Catches Eye as Recent Arrival Watches On
Igor Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in Europe this term with six of his 11 goals coming in the tournament.
This double also means he has got three goals in his previous two outings and the threat of competition for his position in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was watching this game from the stands.
This development may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was impressive against Ferencvaros, delivering two excellent finishes and overall being a menace to the visitors' defence with his speed and runs.
The forward was not the only one in impressing, with James McAtee turning in his best performance in a Forest jersey since joining from Manchester City last summer, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.
Such positive showings will give Forest some renewed optimism as they switch focus to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host their London rivals on the weekend.
"All you can ask for is a response," added Dyche.
"I've never questioned their work ethic or their loyalty or integrity. It is just go and show your quality.
"McAtee was very good and Dan was super sharp. Igor got another two and these are positive indicators."
Star Performer
Number: 19 Igor Jesus
Average rating: 9.1
Forest Top Players
- #19: Average Rating 9.1
- #24: Rating 8.75
- #22: Average Rating 8.63
- #6: Average Rating 8.0
- #31: Average Rating 7.9
The Visitors Notable Players
- B. Yusuf: Rating 4.14
- Júlio Romão: Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Rating 4.1
After the opportunity to submit ratings has ended, the rating shown is the average from all the submissions.
