Igor Jesus Fires Twice as The Reds Conclude Europa League Campaign with Win over Hungarian Opponents
At a Glance
- Forest were previously qualified to the knockout round.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives Nottingham Forest a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' fifth goal in Europe puts Forest in command.
- Forward adds a third with a sharp finish in the second half.
- James McAtee rounds off a excellent display with a penalty.
The Brazilian attacker found the net on two occasions as the Premier League side concluded the league phase of the European competition with a convincing win against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had already secured a berth in the knockout round play-offs and went into this fixture with a slim possibility of reaching the league's elite, although they needed other matches to go their way.
Those results failed to materialize but this confident performance will give the supporters belief that their side can come through the home-and-away tie to reach the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the post with a header inside the opening stages for the away team – coached by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from then on.
They opened the scoring in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by Bence Otvos and added a second four minutes later – the striker firing an effort in at the far post for his tenth strike of the campaign.
Jesus' 11th came early in the second half when he timed a run perfectly to escape the defence and then place a shot beyond the shot-stopper.
That goal ended the visitors' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts added a fourth when the impressive McAtee converted a penalty after a infringement by the unfortunate Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on the winger.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off draw takes place on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Forest might face either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the scoreline, there was that feel about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said manager Sean Dyche.
"This is another stride forward, but it is a positive step."
Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as New Signing Observes from Stands
Jesus has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest in European competition this season with half of his 11 goals scored in the Europa League.
This double also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his last two games and the prospect of a challenge for his position in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was observing this game from the stands.
That may well have been on the striker's mind as he was outstanding against the opposition, delivering two superb goals and overall being a menace to the visitors' defence with his pace and runs.
Jesus was not alone in impressing, with McAtee producing his best performance in a Forest jersey since joining from Manchester City last summer, while the Swiss international also performed well.
Such positive showings will give the club some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to increasing the gap from the bottom three when they welcome their London rivals on Sunday.
"All you can ask for is a response," continued Dyche.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their loyalty or integrity. It is just go and show your quality.
"McAtee was very good and Dan Ndoye was incredibly lively. Igor got another couple and these are good signs."
Star Performer
#19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.10
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Average Rating 9.10
- J. McAtee: Rating 8.8
- R. Yates: Average Rating 8.63
- #6: Average Rating 8.0
- #31: Rating 7.9
The Visitors Notable Players
- #11: Average Rating 4.1
- #66: Average Rating 4.1
- #16: Rating 4.1
Once the chance to rate players has closed, the score displayed is the average from all the submissions.
