🔗 Share this article Igor Jesus Scores a Brace as Nottingham Forest Conclude European Group Stage with Win over Hungarian Opponents Igor Jesus has now notched 11 goals in all competitions for the club this season. Match Summary Forest were previously qualified to the play-offs. A Ferencvaros defender own goal gives Nottingham Forest a opening period lead. Igor Jesus' European strike puts Forest in control. Forward nets again with a sharp finish in the latter period. The midfielder caps a excellent display with a penalty. The Brazilian attacker scored twice as Nottingham Forest concluded the league phase of the European competition with a comfortable win against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground. The hosts had previously guaranteed a berth in the next qualifying round and entered this game with a small chance of making the top eight, although they required other matches to fall in their favor. Those results failed to materialize but this confident performance will give Forest fans confidence that their side can navigate the home-and-away tie to advance to the last 16. A Ferencvaros midfielder did hit the upright with a header inside the opening stages for the away team – who are managed by ex-Premier League forward Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from then on. Forest opened the scoring in the early stages when Ryan Yates' cross was turned into his own net by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead shortly after – the striker squeezing a shot in at the back post for his 10th goal of the campaign. The forward's eleventh goal came early in the second half when he made a perfectly-timed run to break clear of the backline and then place a shot past the shot-stopper. The third strike ended Ferencvaros' aspirations of making a comeback and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a infringement by the hapless Bence Otvos inside the penalty area on the winger. The Europa League knockout phase play-off lottery is scheduled on the final Friday of January (12:00 GMT), where Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or the Greek club. "It is not just the scoreline, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these players to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche. "This is another step, but it is a positive one." Team Breakdown: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Watches On Jesus has been a standout performer for Nottingham Forest in Europe this term with half of his 11 goals coming in the tournament. His brace also means he has scored three goals in his previous two outings and the prospect of a challenge for his place in attack could be spurring him on. Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was recently signed on loan and he was watching this game from the stands. That may well have been on the striker's mind as he was impressive against Ferencvaros, producing two superb goals and generally being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his pace and runs. The forward was not the only one in impressing, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since joining from the champions last summer, while the Swiss international also impressed. Such positive showings will give the club some fresh hope as they switch focus to increasing the gap from the bottom three when they host their London rivals on the weekend. "All you can ask for is a response," continued the manager. "I've never questioned their commitment or their dedication or honesty. It is just go and show your quality. "James was excellent and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Jesus got another two and these are good signs." Star Performer #19 The Striker Match rating: 9.10 Forest Key Performers #19: Average Rating 9.1 #24: Average Rating 8.75 #22: Average Rating 8.63 #6: Rating 8.0 N. Milenković: Rating 7.94 Ferencváros Ratings #11: Average Rating 4.14 Júlio Romão: Rating 4.12 #16: Average Rating 4.1 After the opportunity to rate players has ended, the rating displayed is the mean from all the submissions.