Utrecht 1-2 Nottingham Forest: Sean Dyche’s side bounce back from Everton defeat to remain in the thick of things in Europe
Nottingham Forest moved a step closer to automatic qualification from their Europa League group after a late goal from Igor Jesus secured a 2-1 win away to Utrecht.
The substitute struck just over a minute after coming on, punishing a loose rebound to settle the match with two minutes of normal time left.
Forest arrived in the Netherlands looking for a response after last weekend’s defeat at Everton, and Sean Dyche rotated heavily. Murillo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz all returned from injury, part of nine changes the boss made to manage the tight December schedule.
The visitors started on the front foot and Zinchenko blew their best chance of the first half, before Utrecht settled into the game and things began to look cagey.
Forest went ahead seven minutes into the second half when Arnaud Kalimuendo fired low into the corner. Their confidence grew and they enjoyed a few moments that looked like they might extend their lead, but then the defence switched off and Mike van der Hoorn arrived unmarked at the far post to head in from Souffian El Karouani’s free-kick was allowed to drift to the far post, where Mike van der Hoorn.
Utrecht threw men forward but Igor Jesus was on hand for the rebound when Vasilis Barkas parried Dan Ndoye’s header.
