Igor Jesus Scores a Brace as Nottingham Forest Conclude European Group Stage with Victory over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos own goal gives hosts a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' fifth goal in Europe puts Forest in control.
- Forward nets again with a clinical effort in the latter period.
- The midfielder caps a great display with a spot-kick.
The Brazilian attacker found the net on two occasions as the Premier League side rounded off the league phase of the European competition with a comfortable triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had already secured a place in the next qualifying round and went into this game with a small chance of making the league's elite, although they required several results to go their way.
That did not happen but this assured performance will give Forest fans belief that their side can come through the two-legged play-off to reach the last 16.
A Ferencvaros midfielder did hit the post with a header inside the opening stages for the away team – coached by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from then on.
They opened the scoring in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by the defender and added a second four minutes later – the striker firing an effort in at the far post for his 10th goal of the season.
Jesus' eleventh goal arrived early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to break clear of the defence and then place a shot past the goalkeeper.
The third strike killed off the visitors' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee scored from a penalty after a infringement by the unfortunate Bence Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League qualifying round draw is scheduled on the final Friday of January (midday UK time), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos.
"It is not just the scoreline, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these players to do collectively well, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche.
"This is another step, but it is a positive one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as New Signing Observes from Stands
Jesus has been a revelation for Forest in European competition this season with six 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 attack could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was watching this game from the stands.
That may well have been on the striker's mind as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, producing two superb finishes and overall being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his pace and movement.
The forward was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from the champions last summer, while the Swiss international also performed well.
These encouraging performances will give Forest some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to increasing the gap from the Premier League relegation zone when they welcome Crystal Palace on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a response," added the manager.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their loyalty or honesty. It is just about displaying your ability.
"McAtee was excellent and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are good signs."
Player of the Match
#19 The Striker
Match rating: 9.1
Nottingham Forest Top Players
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.1
- #24: Average Rating 8.75
- R. Yates: Average Rating 8.6
- #6: Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Rating 4.1
- #66: Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Rating 4.1
Once the chance to rate players has closed, the score shown is the mean from all the votes.