IGOR JESUS gave Nottingham Forest their first away win in Europe for 30 years.
The Brazil forward grabbed his seventh goal of the season to earn Sean Dyche’s side victory against Utrecht in the Netherlands – and boost their hopes of a top-eight Europa League place.
But Forest left it late against a side that threatened to take just their second point in the competition this season.
It was 1995 when Forest last won in Europe – in France against Auxerre.
And Arnaud Kalimuendo set them on the way to ending that wait with a determined strike after being set up by Callum Hudson-Odoi seven minutes into the second half.
He shrugged off a series of challenges before burying his second goal for Forest – following his strike against Malmo in the last round of games.
MAD AS A HATTER
Tense moment Arsenal legend Jack Wilshere approaches Luton fan in stands
AIN TROUBLE
Forest’s Aina told off as he admits he’s ‘talking to another star’s girlfriend’
The £26million signing from Rennes also hit the post just after his goal.
But Utrecht made Forest sweat and levelled the score through sub Mike van der Hoorn.
He had only been on the field for 10 minutes when he latched on to a deep free-kick from Souffian El Karouan.
Van der Hoorn was left unmarked and headed home from close range.
Most read in Europa League
But Jesus stepped up with two minutes of normal time left.
He headed home after more impressive work from Hudson-Odoi.
It means Dyche has yet to lose a European tie after taking over at the City Ground.
The Forest boss made nine changes from the team that lost to Everton on Saturday – which gave a number of players the chance to impress.
That included James McAtee – with the former Manchester City attacker seeing his opportunities limited so far since signing for Forest in August.
Forest looked a threat early on and Hudson-Odoi cut in from the left to force a save out of Utrecht keeper Vasilis Barkas.
But Oleksandr Zinchenko should have scored after 11 minutes when Hudson-Odoi’s clever flick left him in space, eight yards from goal – but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Two minutes later, Douglas Luiz crossed for Morato whose close-range header was cleared off the line by Mike Eerdhuijzen.
Forest survive onslaught
It was all Forest in the early stages – and Luiz’s swerving effort from 20 yards saw Barkas produce another impressive save.
But Utrecht came into the game midway through the first half and Forest keeper John Victor had a rush of blood to the head which he got away with.
Victor made amends though with a solid save from Miguel Rodriguez’s long-range effort.
Rodriguez then fired in another two shots on the Forest goal as the Dutch side began to take charge.
Elliot Anderson came on for Luiz at half-time and was soon influencing the game.
He delivered a tempting ball into the area which was just out of Dan Ndoye’s reach.
Elliot Anderson impact
But Forest took the lead through Kalimuendo’s determined effort – and almost grabbed a second on the hour when skipper Nicolas Dominguez’s flick-on found him in the six yard box.
The ball came to him quickly though and the French striker’s shot hit the outside of the post.
Forest looked more like the team that started the game so strongly – but still, openings were being wasted.
Ndoye hesitated in the area and opted to pull the ball back for Dominguez, whose shot was straight at Barkas.
But Utrecht made Forest pay for their missed chances when Van der Hoorn scored.
The goal came against the run of play, but Forest had had enough warnings in the first half.
Utrecht lifted their performance after that and they put Forest under more pressure.
But Forest hit back and grabbed the winner through Jesus – much to the relief of the travelling fans from the East Midlands.
Read the full article here