KEY MEN STEP UP AS FENERBAHCE FLOORED

WITH one swashbuckling win in Istanbul, Nottingham Forest didn't just take a big step toward the Europa League last 16; this was about more than that.

- By SARAH CLAPSON

It was a night to stir spirits and raise confidence levels. A magical night to remind everyone, and perhaps also themselves, what the Reds are really capable of.

Forest waited a long time to get back on the continental stage, and evenings like this one in Istanbul were the kind they had dreamt of. It was one for the ages as Vitor Pereira's side played with a swagger on their way to seeing off Fenerbahce.

And the new head coach oversaw it all with a warming flask of ginger tea in hand. No pints after points (or wins) - his renowned catchphrase during his Wolverhampton Wanderers' tenure - for the Portuguese on this occasion.

He confessed to needing something soothing to help him avoid losing his voice when instructing from the touchline. Keep this up, though, and he will surely be ready to celebrate with something a little stronger soon.

The Reds will take a 3-0 advantage back to the City Ground for next week's second leg of their playoff tie thanks to goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White.

Below is a look at some of the big talking points from Thursday night's triumph.

Confidence restored

Forest have been here before with new managers making a positive impact in their first match in charge this season.

But this felt different to the victory Pereira's predecessor Sean Dyche achieved over Porto back in October.

Having had only a matter of days with his new squad since becoming the club's fourth head coach of the campaign on Sunday, the 57-year-old argued he could not take any credit for what happened at the Chobani Stadyumu.

Certainly, no-one Trentside will be getting carried away after just this one outing but the freedom and fearlessness the visitors showed were undeniable. They played as though a weight had been lifted.