Igor Jesus Fires a Brace as The Reds Round Off European Group Stage with Victory over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the play-offs.
- Bence Otvos own goal gives hosts a opening period lead.
- Igor Jesus' European strike puts Forest in control.
- Forward adds a third with a sharp finish in the latter period.
- The midfielder caps a excellent performance with a spot-kick.
Igor Jesus scored twice as Nottingham Forest rounded off the league phase of the European competition with a convincing triumph against Ferencvaros at the home stadium.
Forest had already secured a berth in the knockout round play-offs and entered this fixture with a small chance of making the top eight, even though they required several results to go their way.
Those results failed to materialize but this assured performance will give Forest fans confidence that their side can navigate the home-and-away tie to advance to the round of sixteen.
Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the post with a header inside the first 10 minutes for the away team – coached by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from that point forward.
Forest opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Ryan Yates' cross was deflected in by Bence Otvos and added a second four minutes later – Jesus squeezing a shot in at the far post for his 10th goal of the campaign.
Jesus' 11th arrived early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the backline and then place a shot beyond the goalkeeper.
That goal 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 foul by the hapless Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on the winger.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off draw takes place on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos.
"It's more than the result, there was that feel about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a good one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as Recent Arrival Watches On
Jesus has been a revelation for Forest in Europe this term with six of his 11 goals coming in the tournament.
This double also means he has got a trio of strikes in his last two games and the threat of a challenge for his position in attack could be spurring him on.
Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was observing this game from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on the striker's mind as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, delivering two excellent finishes and overall being a constant threat to the opposition backline with his speed and movement.
The forward was not alone in impressing, with McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while the Swiss international also performed well.
These encouraging performances will give Forest some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on the weekend.
"All you can ask for is a reaction," continued the manager.
"I have always trusted their commitment or their dedication or integrity. It is just about displaying your ability.
"James was excellent and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are good signs."
Star Performer
#19 Igor Jesus
Match rating: 9.10
Nottingham Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.1
- J. McAtee: Average Rating 8.75
- #22: Rating 8.6
- #6: Average Rating 8.0
- #31: Average Rating 7.94
The Visitors Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.14
- Júlio Romão: Rating 4.12
- K. Zachariassen: Rating 4.09
Once the chance to submit ratings has closed, the rating shown is the average from all the votes.
