It would be a fitting conclusion to a chaotic season if Nottingham Forest somehow finished it with a trophy and a place in the Champions League.
During a season in which they have often looked a shambles on and off the field, Forest produced a performance for the ages in Istanbul on Thursday night.
With Vitor Pereira, their fourth head coach of the campaign, in the dugout for the first time, Forest dismantled an expensively-assembled Fenerbahce side and are on the brink of a place in the last 16 of the Europa League. Goals from Murillo and Igor Jesus – his seventh in Europe this season – put Forest in control at the break and soon after the interval, captain Morgan Gibbs-White added a third.
In the Premier League, Forest are only three points above the relegation zone and face Liverpool at the City Ground on Sunday. Given their form for much of this season, it is hard to imagine a glorious finale. This is Forest, though. Anyone who follows them regularly has learned to expect the unexpected.
As Daily Mail Sport reported last week, part of these players’ gripe with Sean Dyche was that they believed his methods stifled their natural talent.
It felt a big claim for a group who have lost 16 times this term but based on the evidence of this match, they may have a case.
Vitor Pereira enjoyed a winning start as Nottingham Forest boss with victory over Fenerbahce
Murillo gave Nottingham Forest an ideal start with a driven effort from range after 21 minutes
Morgan Gibbs-White sealed an impressive 3-0 victory for Nottingham Forest in Istanbul
Released from Dyche’s drudgery, Forest had enjoyed an astonishing 83 per cent of the ball after seven minutes in one of the Europe’s most intimidating atmospheres. Their football was calm and confident and in the 21st minute, they moved ahead.
Fit-again defender Murillo, who is not thought to have loved life under Dyche, swaggered forward from the halfway line. He beat two defenders and from 25 yards, found a left-foot shot that eluded former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson and crept into the corner.
The standards did not slip. In the 28th minute, the excellent Omari Hutchinson floated a cross from Gibbs-White, who should have done better than head straight at Ederson.
Shortly before half-time, Forest had a nervous wait when Anderson Talisca’s shot hit Murillo’s arm but even after a VAR check, the visitors were spared. Two minutes later, Forest took full advantage as Elliot Anderson’s corner was flicked on by Gibbs-White and powered home at the far post by Jesus. Forest supporters have bemoaned the quality of set pieces this term yet here they were scoring from one in Pereira’s opening game.
Forest were on the right side of another VAR call not long after the interval. Nelson Semedo played Jesus onside as he ran on to Hutchinson’s pass and when the Brazilian slid the ball across, Gibbs-White stumbled but still managed to guide the ball beneath Ederson’s dive. Replays showed Gibbs-White had been just behind his team-mate when the pass was played, and the goal stood.
After that Forest cruised home, to cries of ‘Ole’ from supporters who could scarcely believe their eyes.
None of this means Forest will repeat the display against Liverpool, or that they will avoid the drop. Question marks remain over the mental fortitude of these players.
Yet barring a remarkable turnaround, by this time next week Forest will be one step closer to the Europa League Final. And it would be unwise indeed to bet against them returning to Istanbul to contest it.
