Pereira Enjoys Dream Debut as Forest Manager with Convincing Victory Over Fenerbahce in Europa Qualifiers

Vitor Pereira enjoyed an ideal beginning in his role as Nottingham Forest head coach by securing a 3-0 triumph over Fenerbahce during the opening match of the Europa League qualification rounds on Thursday.

Pereira took over as Forest's fourth manager this campaign following the agreement of an 18-month contract to succeed the dismissed Sean Dyche on Sunday.

He wasted no time making his mark as the struggling Premier League outfit delivered a commanding performance in Istanbul, courtesy of strikes from Murillo, Igor Jesus, and Morgan Gibbs-White.

This strong showing leaves Forest well placed to seal progression in the return fixture at the City Ground on February 26.

Should they advance to the round of 16, Pereira's team would face either Real Betis or Midtjylland.

Sitting precariously only three points clear of the Premier League drop zone, Forest's primary objective remains steering clear of relegation to the Championship.

Nevertheless, prolonging their inaugural European adventure since the 1995-96 season would mark a significant achievement for a club bereft of major continental triumphs since the days of Brian Clough.

Pereira had been unemployed since his dismissal from Wolves in November amid a poor run of form early in the season.

However, holding down the Forest job offers little in the way of stability.

Dyche, removed last week, managed for merely 114 days.

His exit succeeded Ange Postecoglou's brief 39-day tenure in October, itself following Nuno Espirito Santo's departure in September after 21 months in charge.

Pereira previously collaborated with the unpredictable Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis while at Olympiacos.

Yet to thrive at Forest, he must establish momentum swiftly, and the win against his old club Fenerbahce represents positive progress.

For his first game, Pereira introduced two alterations, slotting Jesus and Murillo into the XI. 

Murillo's inclusion turned out to be a masterstroke from Pereira, as the Brazilian defender netted the opener in the 21st minute.

Forest Dominate Proceedings

Charging ahead purposefully, Murillo shrugged off two opponents before unleashing a fine low shot beyond Ederson into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Incensed Fenerbahce manager Domenico Tedesco received a yellow card for complaining after his team was turned down for a spot-kick when Anderson Talisca's effort struck Murillo's arm.

Forest compounded Tedesco's frustration in the 43rd minute.

Gibbs-White nodded Elliot Anderson's corner at the front post, allowing Jesus to nod home from almost on the line.

Jesus's seventh Europa League strike this term drained the fight from Fenerbahce, and Gibbs-White added Forest's third in the 50th minute.

Jesus timed his run to evade the flag and generously laid off to Gibbs-White, who finished despite stumbling as he struck.

In the evening's other initial qualification matches, Santiago Castro's early ninth-minute effort handed Italian outfit Bologna a 1-0 success away to Norwegian side Brann.

Zakaria El Ouahdi drove Genk to a 3-1 success at Dinamo Zagreb.

Bryan Heynen edged the Belgian side in front in the 15th minute, with Morocco's El Ouahdi making it two six minutes after.

Dion Beljo pulled one back just before the break in the 44th, but El Ouahdi claimed his brace deep into added time in the second half.

Iago Aspas and Williot Swedberg netted before the interval to propel Celta Vigo to a 2-1 win at PAOK, whose Alexander Jeremejeff narrowed the gap post half-time.

Further into Thursday, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill will oversee his 1000th game as a coach when Stuttgart travel to Glasgow.

Lille welcome Red Star Belgrade, Ludogorets Razgrad entertain Ferencvaros, and Panathinaikos host Viktoria Plzen.