Lewis Macleod played an hour on his comeback from injury as Brentford were beaten 3-2 by a Chelsea XI at The Blues' Cobham Training Ground this afternoon.

With Head Coach Dean Smith watching on, the Brentford XI also included Yoann Barbet, Philipp Hofmann and Jack Bonham as the new Brentford boss cast his eye over his squad ahead of the busy Christmas period.

Kevin O’Connor’s side could have gone ahead early on but Bradley Clayton’s effort was cleared off the line. Moments later The Blues took the lead as Macleod’s pass was intercepted and neatly curled home by a Chelsea midfielder.

That lead was doubled after just eight minutes as Bonham parried an effort from the edge of the box and the hosts reacted quickest to force the ball over the line from close range.

After that slow start Brentford grew into the game and Clayton and Macleod both shot wide before The Bees pulled one back on the half hour, Hofmann, who impressed during his 45 minutes on the pitch, did brilliantly to beat his man and then find Jan Holldack who swept home from close range.

Chelsea restored their two goal advantage just before the interval as Audrius Laucys bundled over their central midfielder inside the box and he stepped up to convert the spot kick.

Holldack and Barbet shot over and Hofmann’s half-time replacement Courtney Senior saw an effort blocked behind as The Bees started strongly after the break.

Gradi Milenge looped a header straight at Chelsea’s goalkeeper and Brentford should have had a penalty midway through the half as Daniel O’Shaughnessy was felled going for Clayton’s spilled shot but the referee waved play on.

Bonham made a good save to tip over a curling effort with ten minutes to play before The Bees set up an exciting final few minutes as 16-year-old Danny Parish headed home Senior’s cross.

Despite being unable to find a late equaliser Head Coach Dean Smith was very happy with the afternoon’s work.

“It was a good run out for them,” said Dean, speaking after the match. “It is always a test to come to Chelsea, with the quality of players that they have got, but it was good for Philipp Hofmann to get 45 minutes and Yoann Barbet 75 minutes. Lewis Macleod got an hour and Jack Bonham played the full 90 so there were good minutes for everyone out there.

“It is much better for me to see the boys in a game situation and how they react to that. I have not seen an awful lot of a few of these boys on the pitch so that was the reason behind playing them today. The fitter these boys are then the more options we have in the coming weeks.”