Forest's Striker Scores Twice as The Reds Round Off European Campaign with Win over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- The home side were already through to the play-offs.
- A Ferencvaros defender own goal gives Nottingham Forest a opening period lead.
- The striker's European strike puts the team in control.
- Forward nets again with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- The midfielder caps a great display with a penalty.
Igor Jesus scored twice as the Premier League side concluded the group stage of the European competition with a comfortable win against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
Forest had already secured a place in the next qualifying round and entered this fixture with a slim possibility of making the league's elite, even though they required other matches to go their way.
That did not happen but this confident display will give Forest fans belief that their side can come through 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 away team – coached by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from that point forward.
They opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Ryan Yates' cross was deflected in by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead four minutes later – Jesus squeezing a shot in at the back post for his tenth strike of the season.
Jesus' eleventh goal came soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to escape the backline and then place a shot past the shot-stopper.
The third strike killed off the visitors' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts scored again when the excellent James McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a foul by the unfortunate Otvos inside the box on the winger.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off lottery is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Forest might face either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It's more than the result, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a positive one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands
Jesus has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest in Europe this season with half of his 11 goals coming in the tournament.
His brace also means he has scored three goals in his previous two outings and the prospect of competition for his place in attack could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was observing this game from the directors' box.
That may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, producing two superb finishes and generally being a menace to the visitors' defence with his pace and runs.
The forward was not the only one in catching the eye, with McAtee producing his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from the champions in the previous transfer window, while the Swiss international also performed well.
Such positive showings will give Forest some fresh hope as they switch focus to increasing the gap from the Premier League relegation zone when they host Crystal Palace on the weekend.
"The minimum requirement is a reaction," added the manager.
"I've never questioned their commitment or their loyalty or honesty. It is just about displaying your ability.
"James was excellent and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Igor got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Star Performer
Number: 19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.1
Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Average Rating 9.10
- J. McAtee: Average Rating 8.8
- #22: Average Rating 8.63
- #6: Average Rating 8.01
- #31: Average Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Rating 4.1
- #66: Average Rating 4.12
- #16: Rating 4.09
Once the chance to submit ratings has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the votes.
