Vitor Pereira secured the proper begin to his reign at Nottingham Forest as his facet cruised to a cushty 3-0 win in opposition to Fenerbahce within the first leg of the Europa League knockout play-off.
Regardless of solely being appointed as Sean Dyche’s successor 4 days prior, Pereira snapped Forest’s three-game winless run to place them firmly answerable for the tie and on the verge of sealing a spherical of 16 conflict in opposition to Actual Betis or Midtjylland.
Pereira made two minor modifications to Dyche’s closing line-up and used the identical formation however Forest appeared vastly improved from kick-off and took a deserved lead when Murillo’s long-range strike kick-started the brand new period in emphatic type.
The centre again, who was one among two modifications made by Pereira in his first line-up, picked the ball up close to the midway line earlier than driving ahead unchallenged and rifling his shot into the underside left nook.
Forest’s dominance continued from there and they’d add a second simply earlier than the break when Morgan Gibbs-White’s flick on from a nook was nodded in by Igor Jesus on the back-post.
The identical pairing would hyperlink up as soon as once more after the restart however it was the Brazil ahead who turned supplier on this event, squaring the ball to Gibbs-White to comb residence a 3rd purpose for Forest to seal a formidable first win for Pereira in opposition to the crew he managed on two separate events earlier in his profession.
A win and a clear sheet in Europe whereas being unfazed by a hostile reception in Istanbul is a formidable begin to the brand new regime on the Metropolis Floor however Pereira’s facet now face a fast turnaround earlier than their subsequent take a look at in opposition to Liverpool, dwell on Sky Sports activities, this Sunday.
The second leg of the knock-out tie then follows on the Metropolis Floor on February 26.
Sunday twenty second February 1:00pm
Kick off 2:00pm
New-look Forest impress however will it translate to the Premier League?
Sky Sports activities’ Patrick Rowe:
“The personnel and formation had been the identical however the soccer and finish product level to a supervisor who’s already making a distinction, simply 4 days into his time on the membership.
“From minute one, Forest appeared to have extra intent and extra of a leading edge within the closing third, which was made all of the extra spectacular contemplating the hostile reception in Istanbul.
“Murillo’s opener was a stunner however it was deserved. After the lead had been taken, they by no means appeared like relinquishing it and will have simply added to their tally.
“A stark distinction to the crew who could not make one among their 35 pictures in opposition to Wolves depend in Sean Dyche’s closing sport in cost.
“If Forest can replicate that efficiency within the Premier League throughout the ultimate 12 video games, fears of relegation might be a distant reminiscence.”
What’s arising for Forest?
Sunday twenty second February 1:00pm
Kick off 2:00pm
