Lewis Macleod feels he is building up nicely to the new season after coming through a second 45 minutes of pre-season action in five days. The 22-year-old midfielder, who has endured an injury ravaged 18 months at Griffin Park, scored in Friday’s 2-1 defeat to Boreham Wood and then played a key role in the move which led to Scott Hogan’s winner against 2.Bundesliga side VFL Bochum last night. Lewis, whose sole first-team appearance for The Bees came against Brighton and Hove Albion in February, believes this is the best shape he has been in during his time at Griffin Park and is looking ahead to the start of the season.
“It is very pleasing to come through 45 minutes again,” said Lewis, speaking to Bees Player following the match. “I got 45 minutes against Boreham Wood and I had another 45 minutes today in a tough game. It is 45 minutes closer to the start of the season. I feel much better now than I did last season. It is a lot different when you are in working around the team and playing games. That side of it has made me feel ten times better than back then.”
Wednesday’s match was a physical, tough encounter against a Bochum side who finished fifth in the German second division last season. The game was decided just before the break as Lewis found Maxime Colin near the byline and the French defender pulled back for Hogan to tap home from close range. Lewis saw a lot of positives to take from the win and believes that, even though it is only pre-season, getting into a winning habit early can only be positive.
“It is good to be contributing to the goals,” said Lewis. “It was a tough game tonight. They kept the ball really well and were maybe the better side for most of it. The boys got through it, everybody is fine and we won 1-0 which is the main thing. It was an intense game and when Alan McCormack came on in the second-half it became even more intense. The boys did well. We might not have played well but we still won a game and those are good signs. Any game I am in I like to win. That’s the way everybody should be. It is still pre-season but if you can get into winning ways and good habits then that is good for the rest of the season.”