Igor Jesus scored twice as Nottingham Forest defeated Ferencvaros 4-0 at the City Ground in their final Europa League game.
Although it was a convincing win, it wasn’t enough to seal a top-eight spot due to their performance elsewhere, and Forest will now play in next month’s play-off round. But it was a confidence-boosting victory for Sean Dyche’s side, who continued to build on their improved form.
Forest had an early scare thanks to their Hungarian opponents when Kristofer Zachariassen’s header hit the target, but then Robbie Keane’s side capitulated and dominated as the Premier League side launched attack after attack.
Dan Ndoye came close to scoring, but Ryan Yates’ low cross curled past his own goalkeeper with little pressure on Bence Otvos. James McAtee should have doubled his lead before Jesus deflected it and turned the corner moments later.
The two first-half goals came from captain Yates holding the ball inside the opposition half and forcing turnovers, with the visitors unable to cope with the intensity and leaving Forest fans wondering how they had managed to contrive to finish below Ferencvaros in the Europa League table.
Jesus scored his second goal of the night early in the second half when Nicolas Dominguez’s flicked header hit the foot of the post. McAtee scored his first goal for the club with a late penalty, capping off an impressive night for Forest.
Coach Diche, who left many key players on the bench, will face either Panathinaikos or Fenerbahce in the playoff round. But Forest’s immediate thoughts now turn to Sunday’s Premier League clash with fellow struggling Crystal Palace.
Message of Jesus as Forest chase striker
His supporters love to sing, so it may be hard for Jesus to walk across the Trent River, but in a surprisingly one-sided encounter, Jesus walked all the way down this side of Ferencvaros. The mobile forward was finally rewarded for this overall play.
Jesus’ opener in the last Premier League win over Brentford was only his second goal in 22 appearances in the competition, but he has fared better in Europe. The Brazilian has scored six goals in six Europa League games.
The home supporters at the City Ground in particular were hungry to celebrate their striker. Of the goals he has scored in competitive games so far, the only one he has scored at home was a penalty kick against Porto in October. Dyche expects more to come.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s return to the scoresheet against Brentford was a welcome return, but Forest’s firepower without Chris Wood remains in question, so they have decided to sign Lorenzo Lucca and pursue Jean-Philippe Mateta. If Jesus finds form, some problems will be solved.
Daish is satisfied with the response – praises McAtee
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche said in a press conference:
“It’s a tough competition. They were unbeaten in this game. I’m happy with the reaction after the below-average performance in Braga. It’s statistically abnormal to lose that game, but we lost. But I’m really happy with the reaction to it.”
“There are a lot of positive signs. Of course it wasn’t the Braga game, but overall I believe there were clear signs of progress.”
“Tonight was a reminder of the quality and the teamship here. That’s important. You know, (McAtee) scored and the first one to celebrate was Morgan (Gibbs-White). It showed the teamship, the connection.”
“And I like that aspect, that atmosphere of the group was very important.”
Speaking more about McAtee, Coach Dyche said, “The players are very happy for him. He’s frustrating, but he’s very honest about it, and he’s a very likable guy, the way he works. He’s been training really hard. We’re just trying to get him to open up a little bit.”
“I don’t like to make tough decisions on him. I sent him off at half-time[at Utrecht and Wrexham]and I told him I didn’t like that. I’m trying to win the game. If the game isn’t effective, there are rules.”
“But he took it very well. Nothing stupid, nothing immature. I’m really happy for him tonight.”
Keene: A coincidence reached the players.
Ferencvaros head coach Robbie Keane said in a press conference.
“There’s a £650m difference on the field compared to us, that’s the first thing.
“The second is the goals we conceded. Three of them were goals we conceded. The first was an own goal, the second was a goal we conceded when we were in control, and then a penalty. It’s very disappointing in that respect, but overall we have to be realistic. We’re playing against a Premier League team.”
“You always have hope, you always believe, and as a manager you have to believe that you can beat anyone, but it was always very difficult.
“For 15 minutes we were fine. The players were relaxed in terms of play, but if they made one mistake they left immediately. They get punished by the first teams. That’s why they are quality players.”
“That’s a different level. The intensity, the speed, the quality of players is on a different level. That’s why this league is the best league in the world.”
“They felt they were playing against a Premier League team. They all watch the Premier League. That opportunity came their way. Normally you wouldn’t make those mistakes. The intensity of their pressing, the intensity of their chasing. They punish you.”
“All I can say is that it’s an unbelievable feat for the players to be undefeated in eight games and seven out of the teams we’ve played against. I have to give credit to them for that, because no team we’ve played before has given us a chance.”
Forest wins statistically
For the first time in major European football, Nottingham Forest have won three consecutive home matches, keeping a clean sheet in each match. Overall, Forest have kept clean sheets in 12 of their last 14 home games in Europe. The defeat ended Ferencváros’ seven-game unbeaten run in major European competitions (wins, four losses, three draws), their longest run since April 1975, but the Hungarian side are now without a win in their last eight away European matches against England (two losses, six losses). This is the fourth time in total that Nottingham Forest have scored four or more goals in a major European match, and the first time since beating Grasshopper Club Zurich in the European Cup quarter-finals in March 1979. Igor Jesus became the second player in Nottingham Forest history to score five or more goals in a major European season (6), after Garry Birtles scored six goals in the 1978-79 season. Igor Jesus is the third Brazilian player, after Roberto Firmino, to score more than one brace in a major European campaign for an English club. Carlos Vinicius at Liverpool in 2017-18 and 2021-22 and Tottenham in 2020-21. By assisting Igor Jesus’ goal on the night, Nottingham Forest’s Ryan Yates became the first player to score, assist and own goal for an English club in the UEFA Europa League in the same season. Tonight, 19-year-old Zach Abbott made his third start in a major league game in Europe. Nottingham Forest. The only teenager to have started more games for Forest in Europe was Chris Fairclough (six in 1983-84). Ferencvaros’ Bence Eötvös becomes the fourth player in UEFA Europa League history to score an own goal, concede a penalty and receive a yellow card, and the first since Borussia Dortmund’s Dan-Axel Zagadou against Rangers in February 2022.
