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Igor Jesus scored twice as Nottingham Forest rounded off the league phase of the Europa League with a comfortable win against Ferencvaros at the City Ground.

Forest had already secured a place in the next qualifying round and entered this game with a small chance of making the top eight, although they needed several results to fall in their favor.

That did not happen but this confident performance will give Forest fans confidence that their side can come through the home-and-away tie to advance to the round of sixteen.

Kristoffer Zachariassen did hit the post with a headed effort inside the first 10 minutes for the visitors – who are managed by former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane – but it was all Forest from that point forward.

They broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when a delivery from midfield was turned into his own net by the defender and doubled the lead four minutes later – the striker firing an effort in at the back post for his tenth strike of the campaign.

The forward's eleventh goal came early in the second half when he timed a run perfectly to break clear of the defence and then place a shot beyond the goalkeeper.

The third strike ended the visitors' hopes of mounting a recovery and instead Forest scored again when the excellent James McAtee scored from a spot-kick after a infringement by the unfortunate Otvos inside the penalty area on the winger.

Europe's secondary club competition knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled on Friday, 30 January (12:00 GMT), where Nottingham Forest could be drawn against either the Turkish side or the Greek club.

"It's more than the scoreline, there was that feel about it. I want these guys to do well as a unit, the whole squad," said Forest boss Sean Dyche.

"That was another stride forward, but it is a good step."

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Jesus has been a revelation for Forest in Europe this term with half of his eleven strikes scored in the Europa League.

This double also means he has got three goals in his previous two outings and the prospect of a challenge for his place in the forward line could be spurring him on.

Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca was recently brought in temporarily and he was watching this game from the stands.

That may well have been on Jesus' thoughts as he was outstanding against the opposition, delivering two excellent finishes and overall being a menace to the visitors' defence with his speed and movement.

The forward was not alone in impressing, with McAtee turning in his finest display in a Nottingham Forest shirt since signing from Manchester City in the previous transfer window, while the Swiss international also performed well.

Such positive showings will give the club some renewed optimism as they switch focus to pulling further away from the bottom three when they welcome their London rivals on the weekend.

"The minimum requirement is a reaction," continued Dyche.

"I have always trusted their commitment or their loyalty or honesty. It is just about displaying your quality.

"James was excellent and Dan Ndoye was super sharp. Igor got another couple and these are positive indicators."

Player of the Match

Nottingham Forest Top Players

• Igor Jesus: Average Rating 9.1
• #24: Average Rating 8.8
• R. Yates: Rating 8.63
• I. Sangaré: Average Rating 8.01
• N. Milenković: Average Rating 7.9

The Visitors Notable Players

• B. Yusuf: Average Rating 4.1
• Júlio Romão: Average Rating 4.12
• K. Zachariassen: Average Rating 4.1