BY OUR SPORTS REPORTER
NOTTINGHAM FOREST are marching into the Europa League knockout stages with the wind in their sails after a 4-0 demolition of Ferencvaros that felt like a throwback to the glory days of the City Ground.
Sean Dyche’s men might have missed out on a top-eight finish, but they served notice to the rest of Europe that they are no pushovers. On a night where the stars aligned under the Trentside lights, it was Brazilian sensation Igor Jesus who stole the show, proving why he is the second Forest player in history—after the legendary Garry Birtles—to bag six goals in a single European campaign.
The Forest faithful have a new idol to worship. Jesus didn’t just play; he tormented the Hungarian champions. He grabbed his first in the 21st minute, finishing with clinical poise after Ryan Yates—who was everywhere—won the ball back with a crunching tackle.
But the moment of the match came ten minutes into the second half. Ibrahim Sangare spotted a gap that didn’t seem to exist, dinking a delicate lofted pass that Jesus controlled with the grace of a samba dancer before hammering it home to make it 3-0.
Dyche’s Dominance
Forest took the lead early when Yates’ dangerous cross was turned into his own net by the hapless Bence Otvos.
It set the tone for a night where Ferencvaros, coached by Robbie Keane, simply couldn’t live with the Premier League side’s physicality and pace.
Dyche even had the luxury of resting big names, but the quality didn’t drop.
James McAtee, eager to make his mark, capped off a perfect evening by coolly converting a 90th-minute penalty after Dan Ndoye was upended in the box. It was McAtee’s first goal for the club, and the roar from the stands suggested it won’t be his last.
While the result wasn’t enough to bypass the playoff round, Forest enter the next phase as the team nobody wants to draw.
Whether it’s Panathinaikos or Fenerbahce next, they’ll have to deal with a side that has now kept clean sheets in 12 of their last 14 European home games.
As the fans sang about “walking on the Trent,” it was Igor Jesus and his teammates who were walking on water. On this form, the European dream is very much alive in Nottingham.
