Igor Jesus Scores Twice as The Reds Round Off European Campaign with Victory over Hungarian Opponents
At a Glance
- The home side were already through to the knockout round.
- A Ferencvaros defender own goal gives hosts a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts the team in control.
- Striker nets again with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- The midfielder rounds off a excellent performance with a penalty.
The Brazilian attacker scored twice as Nottingham Forest rounded off the league phase of the Europa League with a comfortable triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
Forest had already secured a berth in the next qualifying round and entered this fixture with a slim possibility of making the league's elite, although they required other matches to go their way.
That did not happen but this confident performance will give Forest fans confidence that their side can navigate the two-legged play-off to advance to the last 16.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the post with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the away team – who are managed by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from then on.
Forest broke the deadlock in the early stages when Ryan Yates' cross was turned into his own net by the defender and doubled the lead four minutes later – Jesus firing an effort in at the far post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
Jesus' 11th came soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the backline and then drive an effort beyond the goalkeeper.
That goal killed off the visitors' aspirations of making a comeback and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent McAtee converted a penalty after a infringement by the unfortunate Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition qualifying round lottery takes place on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Forest might face either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the result, there was that feel about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another stride forward, but it is a positive step."
Team Breakdown: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Jesus has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest in European competition this season with six of his 11 goals coming in the Europa League.
This double also means he has scored three goals in his last two games and the prospect of a challenge for his position in the forward line could be providing motivation.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was last week signed on loan and he was watching this match from the directors' box.
That may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, producing two superb goals and generally being a menace to the opposition backline with his pace and movement.
Jesus was not alone in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while the Swiss international also impressed.
Such positive showings will give the club some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the bottom three when they welcome Crystal Palace on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," continued the manager.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their loyalty or integrity. It is just about displaying your ability.
"James was very good and Dan was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
#19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.1
Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Average Rating 9.1
- J. McAtee: Average Rating 8.75
- #22: Rating 8.6
- #6: Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Rating 4.1
- Júlio Romão: Average Rating 4.1
- #16: Rating 4.1
After the opportunity to rate players has ended, the score shown is the mean from all the submissions.
