🔗 Share this article Forest's Striker Scores Twice as The Reds Conclude Europa League Campaign with Victory over Hungarian Opponents The Brazilian forward has now scored eleven strikes in every tournament for Nottingham Forest this season. Match Summary The home side were already through to the play-offs. A Ferencvaros defender own goal gives hosts a opening period lead. The striker's fifth goal in Europe puts the team in command. Striker adds a third with a clinical effort in the second half. The midfielder caps a great display with a penalty. Igor Jesus found the net on two occasions as Nottingham Forest rounded off the group stage of the Europa League with a convincing triumph against their Hungarian visitors at the City Ground. The hosts had already secured a berth in the next qualifying round and entered this game with a slim possibility of making the league's elite, even though they needed several results to go their way. Those results failed to materialize but this assured display will give Forest fans confidence that their side can navigate the two-legged play-off to reach the round of sixteen. A Ferencvaros midfielder struck the post with a headed effort inside the opening stages for the away team – coached by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from then on. Forest broke the deadlock in the early stages when Ryan Yates' cross was deflected in by Bence Otvos and added a second four minutes later – the striker squeezing a shot in at the far post for his tenth strike 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 drive an effort past the shot-stopper. That goal killed off the visitors' aspirations of mounting a recovery and instead the hosts added a fourth when the excellent James McAtee scored from a penalty after a foul by the unfortunate Otvos inside the box on Dan Ndoye. Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off draw takes place on the final Friday of January (midday UK time), where Forest might face either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos. "It's more than the result, there was that feel about it. I want these players to do collectively well, the whole squad," said manager Sean Dyche. "This is another step, but it is a positive one." Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as Recent Arrival Watches On Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in European competition this term with six of his eleven strikes scored in the Europa League. His brace also means he has got a trio of strikes in his last two games and the threat of a challenge for his position in attack could be providing motivation. Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was observing this match from the stands. This development may well have been on the striker's thoughts as he was outstanding against Ferencvaros, producing two superb finishes and overall being a constant threat to the visitors' defence with his speed and runs. Jesus was not the only one in catching the eye, with James McAtee turning in his finest display in a Forest jersey since signing from the champions last summer, while the Swiss international also performed well. These encouraging performances will give Forest some renewed optimism as they turn their attention to pulling further away from the Premier League relegation zone when they welcome Crystal Palace on Sunday. "All you can ask for is a response," continued Dyche. "I've never questioned their work ethic or their loyalty or integrity. It is just go and show your ability. "McAtee was very good and Dan Ndoye was incredibly lively. Jesus got another couple and these are positive indicators." Star Performer #19 The Striker Average rating: 9.1 Forest Top Players #19: Average Rating 9.10 J. McAtee: Rating 8.75 R. Yates: Average Rating 8.6 #6: Rating 8.01 #31: Rating 7.9 Ferencváros Ratings B. Yusuf: Rating 4.14 Júlio Romão: Average Rating 4.1 K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.1 Once the chance to rate players has closed, the score shown represents the mean from all the votes.