Forest's Striker Fires Twice as Nottingham Forest Round Off European Group Stage with Win over Hungarian Opponents
Match Summary
- The home side were previously qualified to the knockout round.
- Bence Otvos deflection gives hosts a first-half lead.
- Igor Jesus' fifth goal in Europe puts Forest in command.
- Forward nets again with a sharp finish in the second half.
- James McAtee caps a great display with a spot-kick.
Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest concluded the league phase of the Europa League with a comfortable win against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.
Forest had previously guaranteed a berth in the next qualifying round and entered this game with a slim possibility of making the top eight, although they required several results 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.
Kristoffer Zachariassen struck the post with a headed effort inside the opening stages for the away team – coached by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from then on.
Forest opened the scoring in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by Bence Otvos and added a second shortly after – the striker firing an effort in at the back post for his 10th goal of the season.
Jesus' 11th came soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to escape the defence and then place a shot beyond the shot-stopper.
That goal killed off the visitors' aspirations of making a comeback and instead Forest added a fourth when the excellent McAtee converted a spot-kick after a foul by the unfortunate Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League qualifying round draw takes place on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Forest might face either Fenerbahce or the Greek club.
"It is not just the result, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said manager Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a positive one."
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Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in Europe this season with six of his eleven strikes scored in the Europa League.
This double also means he has got three goals in his last two games and the prospect of competition for his position in attack could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was watching this game from the directors' box.
This development may well have been on the striker's mind as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, producing two excellent goals and generally being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his pace and movement.
Jesus was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Forest jersey since joining from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while the Swiss international also performed well.
Such positive showings will give the club some renewed optimism as they switch focus to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday.
"All you can ask for is a reaction," added Dyche.
"I have always trusted their work ethic or their loyalty or integrity. It is just go and show your ability.
"James was very good and Dan was incredibly lively. Igor got another couple and these are positive indicators."
Star Performer
#19 The Striker
Average rating: 9.10
Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.1
- #24: Rating 8.8
- #22: Rating 8.6
- #6: Average Rating 8.0
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94
Ferencváros Notable Players
- B. Yusuf: Rating 4.14
- Júlio Romão: Average Rating 4.1
- #16: Average Rating 4.1
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed is the mean from all the submissions.
