🔗 Share this article Forest's Striker Scores Twice as Nottingham Forest Round Off Europa League Group Stage with Win over Hungarian Opponents Igor Jesus has now scored 11 goals in all competitions for Nottingham Forest this season. At a Glance Forest were already through to the play-offs. Bence Otvos own goal gives hosts a first-half lead. Igor Jesus' European strike puts Forest in command. Forward nets again with a sharp finish in the second half. The midfielder rounds off a excellent performance with a penalty. Igor Jesus scored twice as the Premier League side rounded off the group stage of the European competition with a comfortable triumph against Ferencvaros at the home stadium. Forest had already secured a berth in the next qualifying round and went into this fixture with a small chance of making the top eight, although they required other matches to fall in their favor. That did not happen but this assured performance will give Forest fans confidence that their side can come through the home-and-away tie to reach the last 16. Kristoffer Zachariassen struck 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 dominantly the home side from then on. They broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was deflected in by Bence Otvos and doubled the lead four minutes later – Jesus squeezing a shot in at the back post for his tenth strike of the season. Jesus' 11th came soon after the restart when he timed a run perfectly to escape the backline and then place a shot beyond the goalkeeper. That goal ended the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest added a fourth when the impressive McAtee converted a spot-kick after a foul by the hapless Otvos inside the penalty area on Dan Ndoye. Europe's secondary club competition qualifying round lottery is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (midday UK time), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or Panathinaikos. "It is not just the scoreline, there was that atmosphere about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the entire team," said manager Sean Dyche. "This is another stride forward, but it is a good step." Forest Analysis: Striker Shines as New Signing Watches On Jesus has been a standout performer for Forest in European competition this season with six of his eleven strikes coming in the Europa League. His brace also means he has scored three goals in his last two games and the threat of a challenge for his position in the forward line could be spurring him on. Italian forward Lorenzo Lucca was last week brought in temporarily and he was observing this match from the directors' box. That may well have been on Jesus' mind as he was outstanding against the opposition, producing two excellent goals and overall being a menace to the opposition backline with his pace and movement. The forward was not alone in impressing, with James McAtee producing his best performance in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from Manchester City last summer, while Dan Ndoye also impressed. These encouraging performances will give the club some fresh hope as they switch focus to increasing the gap from the bottom three 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 dedication or integrity. It is just go and show your quality. "James was very good and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Jesus got another two and these are good signs." Player of the Match Number: 19 Igor Jesus Match rating: 9.10 Forest Top Players #19: Average Rating 9.1 J. McAtee: Rating 8.75 R. Yates: Rating 8.63 I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.01 N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.94 The Visitors Notable Players B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.14 #66: Rating 4.12 #16: Rating 4.1 Once the chance to rate players has closed, the rating shown represents the mean from all the votes.