Nottingham Forest took a huge step towards securing a place in the last 16 of the Europa League with an incredible 3-0 win over Fenerbahce last night.
Vitor Pereira led the Reds to a dream opening game, before handing the hosts their third home defeat of the season in all competitions.
The team ended up taking 23 shots during the victory, seven of which were on target. As a result, the club scored three goals on the road for the second time this season.
Defensively, the Reds were equally impressive in Istanbul, with the result that the Turkish team could only register two shots on target during the 90 minutes of play.
Many players have managed to attract attention with their individual performances and the manager will no doubt be pleased with the performance of his new team.
Forest’s stars in last night’s game against Fenerbahce
Striker Igor Jesus has been active in the Europa League this season and his performance in Turkey last night once again highlighted just how capable he is in the final third.
The Brazilian scored late in the first half to give Pereira’s side a two-goal lead at the end of the half, diving highest towards the back post and past Ederson.
He also got an assist just minutes into the second half, then beat the offside trap and teed up Morgan Gibbs-White for a tap-in.
The Reds captain also had a memorable night in Istanbul. His basic statistics proved why he led by example with a three-goal victory.
The Englishman was able to create two chances as well as score, and was able to connect Jesus with his seventh goal in Europe in what has been an impressive season.
Gibbs-White also highlighted his sensational workmanlike style without the ball, winning 100% of the aerial duels he participated in and recovering the ball four times.
Forest’s star is now as unstoppable as Gibbs-White.
In what has been a difficult season for Forest, Gibbs-White has often been a ray of hope, featuring in the final third when called upon.
He may not have been a full Reds player this season, having been at the center of a transfer row with Tottenham Hotspur agreeing to pay him £60m for his services.
However, he signed a new contract at the City Ground and to date has made 36 appearances and scored 13 goals. This was his second best result in his East Midlands career.
The captaincy role will make the attacking midfielder one of the first names on the team sheet, with the former Wolves star likely to play a key role in their bid for survival.
Gibbs-White is not the only player who should be a regular starter every week under Pereira, with midfielder Ibrahim Sangare another star who has played a key role in recent months.
The Ivorian came under heavy criticism for his lack of impact in his first two years at the club, but this season has been a revelation, making him perhaps the most improved player in the senior ranks.
Like Gibbs-White, he started last night against Turkey, with the holding midfielder putting in a dominant performance as the heart of the Reds’ starting eleven.
The 28-year-old won four duels on the ground, made two tackles and then provided a ball-winning presence for his side alongside fan favorite Elliott Anderson.
Ibrahim Sangare – Stats against Fenerbahce | |
|---|---|
statistics | tally |
Play time (minutes) | 90 |
touch | 58 |
Pass accuracy | 82% |
advance to the final third | 5 |
The tackle I made | 2 |
Won a ground duel | 4 |
Number of balls collected | 12 |
Number of intercepts | 3 |
Additionally, Gibbs-White’s ability to win the ball back with ease, with three interceptions and 12 ball recoveries, allowed him to dominate in the attacking area.
However, Sangare was just as impressive with the ball, completing 82% of the passes he attempted, five of which found their way into the final third.
The Ivorian also completed two successful dribbles, the most of any player on the pitch, and his progressive nature handed his captain the tools he needed to wreak havoc on opponents.
There’s no denying that Sangare is finally starting to show the quality that many fans expected when the club splashed out £30m on his contract in the summer of 2023.
Nottingham Forest’s biggest ever contract
Evangelos Marinakis has been spending big in recent years.
His skillset in possession and off-ball will be essential if the Reds are to ensure their survival in the Premier League and advance to the next round of the Europa League.
The midfield trio of Gibbs-White, Sangare and Anderson is arguably one of the best in the division, and all three star players will have big roles in the coming months.
No Aina or Morato, £30m star starts: Pereira’s dream Nottingham Forest XI
Nottingham Forest have brought in their fourth manager this season, with Vitor Pereira set to take over as manager.
