EUROPA League specialist Igor Jesus was at it again as Nottingham Forest ended their group games in style.
The Brazilian netted twice at the City Ground and moved into double figures for the season after a £10million summer move from Botafogo.
But SIX of those goals have come in Forest’s first European campaign in three decades.
Ferencvaros – previously unbeaten in the Europa League this season – were the latest team to find Jesus in top form.
It was a result that earned Forest a home tie in the second leg of their play-off tie next month.
But it also saw Robbie Keane’s side drop out of the top eight with a display that only briefly threatened Forest’s dominance.
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Sean Dyche’s side had the slimmest of opportunities to finish in the top eight of the Europa League – but after their defeat Braga this month, that was unlikely to happen.
Sure enough, the other results did not go their way.
But this display was a frustrating taste of what might have been for Forest – and boosted their optimism for the rest of the competition.
Ryan Yates – captain in place of the rested Morgan Gibbs-White – was the driving force behind Forest’s first two goals.
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He forced an own goal from Ferenvaros’ Bence Otvos – before setting up Jesus’s second.
Jesus added a third after the break to put Forest in cruise control – and knows he has to perform with on loan Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca now on board.
But Forest were given a scare after just six minutes when Jonathan Levi whipped in a cross and Kristoffer Zachariassen headed against the post from six yards out.
It looked as though Keane’s men might just produce the performance he was hoping for.
Forest soon settled though and Dan Ndoye showed some trickery on the left before drilling in a low shot which was saved by David Grof – who was once on Notts County’s books.
But Forest went ahead after 17 minutes with a disastrous goal for the Hungarian team.
Gabi Kanichowsky claimed he was fouled in the build up by Yates, but the Austrian ref Seb Gishamer waved play on.
Yates then regained the ball and delivered a cross from the right which Bence Otvos – seemingly not under pressure – could only steer into his own net.
Forest needed only four minutes to extend their lead – and Yates was involved again.
He supplied Jesus who took the ball to the edge of the 18 yard box before his well-placed shot found the far corner.
Ferencvaros tried to pull one back before the break and keeper Matz Sels tipped over the bar as the unlucky Zachariassen was denied again.
But Firest sensed a third goal after the break with Yates forcing a save from Grof – and Nicolas Dominguez heading against the inside of the post before the danger was cleared.
Jesus found the net again after 55 minutes to effectively seal the tie.
Ibraham Sangare’s pinpoint pass found the Forest striker and he whipped the ball home.
Jesus has now scored four goals in as many gamed for Dyche who will hope he can lift Forest to Premier League safety.
He is just the second Nottingham Forest player with five goals in a major European campaign, along with Garry Birtles in 1978-79 (six).
Forest added a fourth from the penalty spot with a minute to go – thanks to James McAtee’s first goal for the club since making a £30million move from Manchester City in August.
It was not Otvos’ night after his own goal – he brought down Ndoye to give away the penalty.
But with Gibbs-White record from penalties not good this season – McAtee stepped up to coolly convert.
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