Forest's Striker Fires a Brace as Nottingham Forest Conclude European Group Stage with Victory over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the knockout round.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives Nottingham Forest a opening period lead.
- The striker's fifth goal in Europe puts the team in control.
- Forward nets again with a clinical effort in the second half.
- James McAtee caps a excellent performance with a spot-kick.
Igor Jesus scored twice as Nottingham Forest concluded the group stage of the Europa League with a comfortable triumph against Ferencvaros at the City Ground.
Forest had already secured a place in the knockout round play-offs and entered this fixture with a slim possibility of reaching the league's elite, even though they required several results to go their way.
Those results failed to materialize but this confident performance will give Forest fans belief that their side can come through the two-legged play-off to reach the round of sixteen.
Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the post with a header inside the opening stages for the visitors – 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 a delivery from midfield was deflected in by the defender and added a second shortly after – the striker firing an effort in at the far post for his tenth strike of the season.
Jesus' 11th arrived soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to break clear of the defence and then drive an effort past the goalkeeper.
The third strike ended the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts scored again when the impressive McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a foul by the unfortunate Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off lottery is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest might face either Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos.
"It's more than the scoreline, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a good step."
Team Breakdown: Striker Shines as New Signing Watches On
Jesus has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest in European competition this season with half of his 11 goals coming in the tournament.
This double also means he has got a trio of strikes in his previous two outings and the threat of a challenge for his position in the forward line could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week signed on loan and he was watching this game from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, delivering two excellent finishes and overall being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his speed and runs.
The forward was not alone in catching the eye, with James McAtee producing his best performance 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 the club some fresh hope as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the bottom three when they welcome their London rivals on the weekend.
"The minimum requirement is a response," continued Dyche.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their dedication or integrity. It is just go and show your ability.
"James was very good and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Player of the Match
Number: 19 The Striker
Average rating: 9.1
Forest Key Performers
- #19: Average Rating 9.1
- #24: Rating 8.8
- R. Yates: Rating 8.63
- #6: Average Rating 8.01
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.9
Ferencváros Notable Players
- B. Yusuf: Rating 4.14
- #66: Average Rating 4.1
- K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.09
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the rating displayed represents the average from all the submissions.
