Vitor Pereira gets dream start as Nottingham Forest put one foot in Europa League last 16 | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest enjoyed a sensational start to life under new manager Vitor Pereira, as they secured a commanding 3-0 victory away at Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Europa League play-off tie.

The emphatic win in Istanbul puts the Premier League side firmly in contention for a place in the last 16, marking a dream debut for Pereira, who becomes Forest's fourth manager of what has been a turbulent season.

Goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus, and Morgan Gibbs-White sealed a memorable night, providing a significant boost as the club navigates a challenging period.

This dominant performance means Forest are now strong favourites to progress, with only a catastrophic collapse in next week's return leg at the City Ground preventing a potential last-16 clash against either Real Betis or Midtjylland.

While European success is welcome, Pereira's primary mandate remains securing Forest's top-flight status. This result offers a crucial injection of confidence ahead of Sunday's crucial home fixture against Liverpool.

The Portuguese tactician, familiar with the Chobani Stadyumu from two previous stints managing the Turkish club, watched his side expertly nullify the early hostile atmosphere.

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Goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White made it a memorable night for Forest as life after Sean Dyche began in freescoring fashion (Getty Images)

They established an accomplished rhythm, taking a deserved lead in the 21st minute and effectively silencing the home support.

Elliot Anderson passed to Murillo in the centre circle and the Brazil defender charged up the pitch and lashed a low shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

It was almost two moments later as Jesus played on, with Fenerbahce captain Milan Skriniar – the former Liverpool defender – down injured in the middle of the pitch.

Jesus wriggled into the box and had a fierce shot, but it hit Jayden Oosterwolde and went out from a corner.

The chances kept on coming as Gibbs-White headed straight at Ederson from eight yards out, Jesus could not direct a deflected free-kick goalwards and Callum Hudson-Odoi had a shot blocked.

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Nottingham Forest's Ryan Yates, right, heads the ball against Fenerbahce's Ismail Yuksek during a Europa league play-off first leg soccer match between Fenerbahce and Nottingham Forest (AP)

Forest survived a scare before the break as a VAR check came back in their favour when Talisca’s shot hit the arm of Murillo, but it was ruled to be in a natural position.

And that proved pivotal as they doubled the lead in the 43rd minute.

Gibbs-White flicked on Anderson’s corner at the near post and Jesus was waiting at the back to nod home on the line.It was his sixth Europa League goal in seven games.

Fenerbahce had to come up with something in the second half and they almost got one back just 20 seconds after the restart when Sidiki Cherif got in down the right, but his effort was tipped over the crossbar by Stefan Ortega.

Any hopes of a home comeback were killed in the 50th minute as Forest went 3-0 up.

Jesus broke the offside trap and squared for Gibbs-White, who scooped the ball home from 12 yards.

It could have been even better, but Nicolas Dominguez whipped an effort over from a great position inside the area and Ederson got down well to deny Neco Williams.