Igor Jesus Scores a Brace as The Reds Round Off European Group Stage with Win over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the play-offs.
- A Ferencvaros defender deflection gives hosts a first-half lead.
- The striker's fifth goal in Europe puts the team in command.
- Forward adds a third with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- The midfielder caps a great display with a penalty.
Igor Jesus scored twice as Nottingham Forest rounded off the group stage of the Europa League with a comfortable triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
Forest had previously guaranteed a berth in the knockout round play-offs and entered this game with a small chance of making the league's elite, although they required several results to go their way.
Those results failed to materialize but this confident performance will give the supporters belief that their team can navigate the two-legged play-off to reach the round of sixteen.
Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the post 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 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 – the striker squeezing a shot in at the back post for his 10th goal of the season.
The forward's 11th arrived early in the second half when he timed a run perfectly to escape the defence and then drive an effort past the shot-stopper.
The third strike ended Ferencvaros' hopes of making a comeback and instead Forest scored again when the impressive James McAtee converted a penalty after a infringement by the unfortunate Otvos inside the box on the winger.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off lottery is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or the Greek club.
"It is not just the result, there was that feel about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the entire team," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"This is another stride forward, but it is a good one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as Recent Arrival Watches On
Igor Jesus has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest in Europe this season with half of his eleven strikes scored in the Europa League.
This double also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his previous two outings and the prospect of a challenge for his position in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was observing this game from the stands.
This development may well have been on the striker's mind as he was outstanding against the opposition, delivering two excellent finishes and overall being a menace to the opposition backline with his speed and movement.
The forward was not alone in catching the eye, with McAtee producing 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 fresh hope as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday.
"All you can ask for is a reaction," added the manager.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their dedication or integrity. It is just about displaying your quality.
"McAtee was excellent and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
Number: 19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.10
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- #19: Rating 9.1
- #24: Rating 8.75
- #22: Rating 8.63
- #6: Rating 8.0
- N. Milenković: Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- #11: Average Rating 4.14
- Júlio Romão: Average Rating 4.1
- K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.1
After the opportunity to rate players has ended, the score displayed represents the mean from all the votes.
