Callum Hudson-Odoi was delighted with Nottingham Forest's resilience against Fenerbahce, though he conceded they made it difficult for themselves in the second leg.

Forest stumbled their way into the Europa League round of 16 after a 2-1 defeat to Fenerbahce in the second leg at the City Ground, but progressed 4-2 on aggregate.

Kerem Akturkoglu netted a brace – he opened the scoring in the 22nd minute before winning a penalty in the first 24 seconds after half-time, which he then converted.

However, Hudson-Odoi netted in the 68th minute to restore some hope for Forest, with both sides indebted to their goalkeepers in the final minutes as they made big saves at either end.

Although they have reached the knockout stage proper, Forest have suffered two home defeats in a single major European season for the first time (also lost to Midtjylland in October).

But Forest can take positives from the second half, in which they had nine shots to Fenerbahce's five, with Hudson-Odoi highlighting the importance of the half-time team talk.

"I think we made it difficult for ourselves," he told TNT Sports. "Sometimes you know when you are in the lead, and sometimes you are comfortable.

"We showed a great reaction after the second goal. The most important thing is that we are through."

"It [the half-time team talk] was needed to up the levels a bit more and focus on what we know more, which is us playing football and the high press. We reacted very well.

"In situations like that, when they get a couple of goals, you have to calm the game down. We had to focus on what we know as best, trying to get the ball and trying to create chances. We have to keep working hard on the little things.

"Every game from now until the end of the season is a final for us. We have to be ready for every game and keep working hard."

Vitor Pereira's time as Forest boss began with the 3-0 first-leg win over Fenerbahce, but he has since lost to Liverpool as well as suffering defeat on Thursday.

He became the second Forest head coach this season to lose his first two home games in charge, along with Ange Postecoglou.

Pereira has also now lost four in a row at home in all competitions (also his last two at Wolves), his worst-ever run as a manager.

He made four half-time changes, including the introduction of Hudson-Odoi in an attempt to turn the tide, and accepted the blame for the dwindling energy levels.

"When you change half of the team, it is not easy to keep the level," Pereira told TNT Sports. "It was my responsibility because we have an important game in three days.

"I decided to recover some players to have energy in the next game, but it is not easy when you change a lot.

"We conceded a goal, and we lost the confidence to play. It was difficult for me to do four subs at the same time, but I spoke to the players and said it was my decision, and we needed to do it because the game came into a dangerous situation for us.

"They scored the second, but then we started to play to our level. We scored. This is important to keep in our minds, Europa League is not easy.

"With stress and pressure, it was difficult for them to be themselves because they are not playing every match. In the end, we are in the competition. In the second half, we controlled the game and result. Let's move forward."