🔗 Share this article

Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as the Premier League side concluded the group stage of the European competition with a comfortable win against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground.

The hosts had already secured a place in the next qualifying round and went into this fixture with a slim possibility of reaching the league's elite, although they required several results to fall in their favor.

Those results failed to materialize but this confident performance will give the supporters belief that their team can come through the two-legged play-off to advance to the last 16.

A Ferencvaros midfielder did hit the post with a header inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – coached by ex-Premier League forward 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 – the striker squeezing a shot in at the back post for his tenth strike of the campaign.

The forward's eleventh goal came early in the second half when he timed a run perfectly to escape the defence and then place a shot beyond the goalkeeper.

That goal killed off the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest scored again when the excellent James McAtee scored from a penalty after a infringement by the hapless Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye.

Europe's secondary club competition 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 is not just the result, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these players to do collectively well, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.

"This is another stride forward, but it is a good one."

Team Breakdown: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Observes from Stands

Igor Jesus has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest in Europe this season with six of his eleven strikes coming in the tournament.

This double also means he has got a trio of strikes in his previous two outings and the threat of competition for his place in the forward line could be spurring him on.

Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan 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 the opposition, delivering two excellent goals and overall being a menace to the opposition backline with his pace and runs.

The forward was not alone in impressing, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Forest jersey since signing from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while Dan Ndoye also performed well.

Such positive showings will give Forest some fresh hope as they switch focus to pulling further away from the bottom three when they welcome their London rivals on Sunday.

"All you can ask for is a response," added the manager.

"I have always trusted their commitment or their loyalty or honesty. It is just about displaying your ability.

"McAtee was very good and Dan was incredibly lively. Jesus got another couple and these are positive indicators."

Star Performer

Nottingham Forest Key Performers

• #19: Average Rating 9.10
• J. McAtee: Average Rating 8.75
• #22: Average Rating 8.63
• #6: Rating 8.01
• N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94

Ferencváros Notable Players

• #11: Rating 4.1
• Júlio Romão: Average Rating 4.12
• #16: Average Rating 4.09