Europa play-offs: Forest boss Pereira makes perfect start with Fenerbahce rout
Vitor Pereira made a dream start as Nottingham Forest manager with a 3-0 win against Fenerbahce in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs on Thursday. Pereira became Forest’s
Vitor Pereira made a dream start as Nottingham Forest manager with a 3-0 win against Fenerbahce in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs on Thursday.
Pereira became Forest’s fourth boss this season after agreeing an 18-month deal to replace the sacked Sean Dyche on Sunday.
He made an instant impact as the Premier League strugglers powered to an impressive victory in Istanbul thanks to goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White
Forest’s dominant display puts them in pole position to finish the job in the second leg at the City Ground on February 26.
If they reach the last 16, Pereira’s side would play Real Betis or Midtjylland.
“I realised before I came that the players have a lot of quality. They need results but they need to enjoy the game,” Pereira said. “If they enjoy the way they are playing they can have a high level. They need just organisation and confidence.
“I asked them to express themselves on the pitch. They did it. It was a very good result.”
Perched perilously just three points above the Premier League relegation zone, Forest’s main aim is to avoid dropping into the Championship.
But extending their first European campaign since 1995-96 would be a notable feat for a club starved off continental success since the Brian Clough era.
Pereira had been out of work since being sacked by Wolves in November after a dismal start to this season.
Managing Forest is hardly a guarantee of job security, however.
Dyche, axed last week, was in charge for just 114 days.
His departure followed the end of Ange Postecoglou’s 39-day reign in October, which came after Nuno Espirito Santo, sacked in September, lasted just 21 months at the helm.
Pereira previously worked with volatile Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis during his spell with Olympiacos.
But to survive at Forest he needs to hit the ground running and victory over his former club Fenerbahce was a step in the right direction.
Pereira made two changes for his debut, bringing Jesus and Murillo into the starting line-up.
Murillo’s return proved an inspired move by Pereira as the Brazilian centre-back opened the scoring in the 21st minute.
Bursting forward with intent, Murillo held off two challenges before lashing a superb low strike past Ederson into the far corner from 25 yards.
Forest struck again in the 43rd minute.
Gibbs-White flicked on Elliot Anderson’s corner at the near post and Jesus pounced to head in from virtually on the goal-line.
Jesus’ seventh goal in the Europa League this season sucked the spirit from Fenerbahce and Gibbs-White notched Forest’s third goal in the 50th minute.
Jesus beat the offside trap and unselfishly squared to Gibbs-White, who slotted home despite losing his footing while shooting.
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In Thursday’s other early first leg ties, Santiago Castro’s ninth-minute goal gave Italian side Bologna a 1-0 win at Norway’s Brann.
Zakaria El Ouahdi inspired Genk’s 3-1 win at Dinamo Zagreb.
Bryan Heynen put the Belgian club ahead in the 15th minute and Morocco wing-back El Ouahdi doubled the visitors’ lead six minutes later.
Dion Beljo got one back in the 44th minute, but El Ouahdi bagged his second goal in second-half stoppage-time.
Iago Aspas and Williot Swedberg scored in the first half to fire Celta Vigo to a 2-1 victory at PAOK, who reduced the deficit through Alexander Jeremejeff after the interval.
Later on Thursday, Celtic boss Martin O’Neill will take charge of the 1,000th match of his managerial career when Stuttgart visit Glasgow.
Lille host Red Star Belgrade, Ludogorets Razgrad face Ferencvaros and Panathinaikos meet Viktoria Plzen.
