Forest's Striker Fires a Brace as Nottingham Forest Conclude European Campaign with Win over Ferencvaros
Match Summary
- The home side were already through to the knockout round.
- A Ferencvaros defender deflection gives hosts a opening period lead.
- The striker's European strike puts the team in command.
- Forward adds a third with a clinical effort in the second half.
- The midfielder rounds off a great performance with a spot-kick.
Igor Jesus scored twice as Nottingham Forest rounded off the league phase of the European competition with a comfortable triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.
The hosts had already secured a berth in the knockout round play-offs and entered this fixture with a slim possibility of making the league's elite, although they needed other matches to fall in their favor.
That did not happen but this confident performance will give the supporters confidence that their side can navigate the home-and-away tie to advance to the last 16.
A Ferencvaros midfielder did hit the post with a headed effort 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.
They broke the deadlock in the early stages when Ryan Yates' cross was turned into his own net by the defender and doubled the lead four minutes later – the striker firing an effort in at the far post for his tenth strike of the season.
Jesus' eleventh goal arrived early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to escape the backline and then place a shot past the shot-stopper.
That goal killed off the visitors' hopes of making a comeback and instead the hosts scored again when the impressive McAtee converted a penalty after a infringement by the unfortunate Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.
Europe's secondary club competition 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's more than the result, there was that feel about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the entire team," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.
"That was another step, but it is a good one."
Team Breakdown: Jesus Catches Eye as New Signing Observes from Stands
Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in Europe this term with half of his eleven strikes scored in the Europa League.
This double also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his last two games and the threat of competition for his position in the forward line could be providing motivation.
Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was watching this game from the directors' box.
That may well have been on the striker's thoughts as he was outstanding against the opposition, producing two excellent goals and overall being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his pace and movement.
Jesus was not alone in catching the eye, with McAtee turning in his finest display in a Forest jersey since signing from the champions in the previous transfer window, while the Swiss international also impressed.
Such positive showings will give the club some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the bottom three when they host their London rivals on Sunday.
"The minimum requirement is a response," continued Dyche.
"I have always trusted their commitment or their dedication or integrity. It is just go and show your quality.
"McAtee was very good and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Jesus got another couple and these are good signs."
Player of the Match
#19 The Striker
Average rating: 9.1
Forest Key Performers
- Igor Jesus: Rating 9.1
- #24: Average Rating 8.75
- R. Yates: Average Rating 8.63
- #6: Rating 8.0
- N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.9
Ferencváros Ratings
- B. Yusuf: Rating 4.1
- #66: Average Rating 4.12
- #16: Average Rating 4.1
Once the chance to rate players has ended, the score shown is the mean from all the submissions.
