Igor Jesus Fires a Brace as Nottingham Forest Round Off European Campaign with Win over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were already through to the knockout round.
- A Ferencvaros defender own goal gives Nottingham Forest a opening period lead.
- The striker's European strike puts the team in control.
- Striker nets again with a sharp finish in the second half.
- The midfielder caps a great performance with a spot-kick.
The Brazilian attacker found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest rounded off the league phase of the Europa League with a comfortable triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
Forest had already secured a place in the knockout round play-offs and entered this game with a small chance of making 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 home-and-away tie to advance to the round of sixteen.
A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the post with a headed effort inside the opening stages for the away team – who are managed by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was dominantly the home side from then on.
They opened the scoring in the early stages when Ryan Yates' cross was deflected in by the defender and doubled the lead shortly after – the striker squeezing a shot in at the far post for his tenth strike of the campaign.
Jesus' eleventh goal arrived soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the defence and then drive an effort past the shot-stopper.
The third strike ended Ferencvaros' aspirations of making a comeback and instead the hosts added a fourth when the impressive McAtee converted a spot-kick after a foul by the hapless Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye.
The Europa League knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either Fenerbahce or the Greek club.
"It's more than the scoreline, there was that feel about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche.
"This is another step, but it is a good step."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as Recent Arrival Watches On
Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in Europe this term with six of his eleven strikes coming in the tournament.
This double also means he has got three goals in his last two games and the prospect of a challenge for his position in attack could be spurring him on.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week signed on loan and he was observing this match from the stands.
This development may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was outstanding against the opposition, producing two superb finishes and generally being a menace to the opposition backline with his pace and movement.
Jesus was not the only one in impressing, with McAtee producing his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from the champions in the previous transfer window, while Dan Ndoye also impressed.
These encouraging performances will give the club some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the Premier League relegation zone when they welcome Crystal Palace on the weekend.
"All you can ask for is a response," continued the manager.
"I've never questioned their work ethic or their loyalty or integrity. It is just go and show your quality.
"McAtee was excellent and Dan was incredibly lively. Jesus got another two and these are good signs."
Star Performer
#19 Igor Jesus
Average rating: 9.10
Nottingham Forest Top Players
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.1
- #24: Rating 8.8
- #22: Average Rating 8.63
- #6: Rating 8.0
- #31: Average Rating 7.94
The Visitors Ratings
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- #16: Average Rating 4.09
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