🔗 Share this article

The Brazilian attacker found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest concluded the group stage of the Europa League with a comfortable win against their Hungarian visitors at the home stadium.

Forest had already secured a place in the next qualifying round and entered this fixture with a small chance of making the top eight, even though they required several results to fall in their favor.

Those results failed to materialize but this confident performance will give Forest fans belief that their team can come through the two-legged play-off to advance to the round of sixteen.

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 then on.

They opened the scoring in the early stages when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by the defender and added a second four minutes later – Jesus firing an effort in at the far post for his tenth strike of the season.

The forward's 11th came soon after the restart when he made a perfectly-timed run to break clear of the backline and then drive an effort beyond the goalkeeper.

That goal killed off the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts scored again when the impressive James McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a infringement by the hapless Otvos inside the penalty area on the winger.

Europe's secondary club competition qualifying round lottery takes place on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos.

"It's more than the result, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these guys to do collectively well, the entire team," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.

"That was another step, but it is a good one."

Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Watches On

Igor Jesus has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest in Europe this term with half of his eleven strikes scored in the tournament.

This double also means he has scored a trio of strikes in his last two games and the threat of a challenge for his position in attack could be spurring him on.

Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was watching this match from the directors' box.

This development may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, delivering two excellent goals and overall being a constant threat to the opposition backline with his speed and movement.

The forward was not the only one in impressing, with McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining 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 increasing the gap from the Premier League relegation zone when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday.

"All you can ask for is a reaction," continued Dyche.

"I have always trusted their work ethic or their dedication or honesty. It is just go and show your quality.

"James was excellent and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Igor got another two and these are good signs."

Player of the Match

Nottingham Forest Key Performers

• Igor Jesus: Average Rating 9.10
• #24: Rating 8.8
• #22: Rating 8.63
• I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.01
• N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94

Ferencváros Notable Players

• B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.1
• Júlio Romão: Average Rating 4.1
• #16: Average Rating 4.09