Nottingham Forest kept their side of the bargain with a comfortable victory but the miracle that was required for a Europa League top-eight finish did not materialise.
Instead Sean Dyche’s side must continue Forest’s first European jaunt since 1996 with a play-off double header next month; it proved too much to ask for all eight clubs ahead of them at kick-off to stumble as required.
Igor Jesus took his Europa League goal tally to six in as many games with a brace that added to an early own goal misfortune by visitors managed by Robbie Keane.
Forest were relieved when Kristofer Zachariassen’s sixth-minute header bounced back off the near post from a corner routine – and fortunate to take the lead at the other end in the 17th minute
Ryan Yates, having won possession and played a one-two with James McAtee, fired in a hopeful cross from the right. No Forest man was near to getting on the end of it but defender Bence Otvos instead diverted it into his own goal.
VAR saw nothing wrong with Yates’ initial challenge and it was the Forest captain who again won the ball for his side’s second, in the 21st minute.
That saw Igor Jesus weave his way into the box and find the net with a shot that took a deflection off Ibrahim Cisse to creep in at the far post.
The Hungarians were relieved that a corner around the half-hour mark did not increase the own goal tally further following a flap by goalkeeper David Grof.
Forest were comfortable for the rest of the half, although Matz Sels had to tip over another header from Zachariassen right at the end.
Forest started the second period strongly with Yates forcing Grof into a parry before Jesus headed narrowly wide and Nicolas Dominguez, beating the erratic Grof to McAtee’s cross, saw his header hit the back post.
A third goal was coming and Jesus helped himself to it in the 55th minute. The hapless Otvos was again at fault, allowing the striker to out-muscle him chasing Ibrahim Sangare’s long ball. Jesus lashed home first time and again VAR saw nothing untoward.
The fourth goal came from the penalty spot after Otvos had hauled Ndoye down and McAtee made no mistake to register his first goal since his £30million summer switch from Manchester City.
