Igor Jesus Scores a Brace as Nottingham Forest Round Off European Campaign with Victory over Ferencvaros
At a Glance
- Forest were previously qualified to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos own goal gives Nottingham Forest a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts the team in command.
- Forward adds a third with a clinical effort in the second half.
- James McAtee rounds off a great performance with a penalty.
The Brazilian attacker found the net on two occasions as the Premier League side concluded the group stage of the Europa League with a comfortable win against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
The hosts had previously guaranteed a place in the knockout round play-offs and went into this game with a slim possibility of making the league's elite, although they required several results to fall in their favor.
Those results failed to materialize but this assured performance will give the supporters confidence that their team can come through the home-and-away tie to advance to the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder did hit the post with a header inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – coached by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from that point forward.
Forest broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Ryan Yates' cross was turned into his own net by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead four minutes later – Jesus firing an effort in at the back post for his tenth strike of the campaign.
Jesus' eleventh goal came early in the second half when he timed a run perfectly to break clear of the defence and then place a shot beyond the goalkeeper.
The third strike killed off the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the impressive McAtee scored from a penalty after a foul by the hapless Bence Otvos inside the box on the winger.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Nottingham Forest might face either the Turkish side or the Greek club.
"It's more than 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 step, but it is a positive step."
Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as New Signing Watches On
Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Forest in European competition this term with six of his 11 goals scored in the Europa League.
His brace also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his previous two outings and the threat of competition for his place in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was observing this match from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on the striker's thoughts as he was impressive against Ferencvaros, producing two excellent finishes and generally being a menace to the opposition backline with his speed and movement.
The forward was not alone in impressing, with James McAtee producing his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from the champions in the previous transfer window, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.
Such positive showings will give Forest some fresh hope as they turn their attention to increasing the gap from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," added the manager.
"I have always trusted their commitment or their loyalty or integrity. It is just go and show your quality.
"James was very good and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are good signs."
Player of the Match
Number: 19 Igor Jesus
Match rating: 9.10
Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Average Rating 9.10
- J. McAtee: Rating 8.75
- R. Yates: Rating 8.63
- I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.0
- N. Milenković: Rating 7.9
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.1
- Júlio Romão: Average Rating 4.12
- #16: Rating 4.09
Once the chance to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the votes.
