Ex-QPR man features for Brentford in friendly draw

Brentford handed a trial to former QPR loanee Emmanuel Ledesma as they drew 1-1 with German second-tier side Kaiserslautern at Griffin Park.

Ledesma, 28, is a free agent after leaving Rotherham and is well known to Bees boss Dean Smith, who managed him for a spell at Walsall.

The Argentinean played the last half hour of a game which only sprang into life in the second half.

Before the break, Kaiserslautern had struck the post through Marcel Gaus while Brentford were limited to half chances created by the lively Lewis Macleod.

The Bees made an immediate impression after the interval, though, with Alan McCormack forcing a save – but it took a stroke of luck to take the lead from the corner that followed.

Macleod’s delivery was straight on to the head of Kaiserslautern defender Alexander Ring, who somehow managed to pick out the top corner of his own net.

Within 10 minutes, the visitors were level with their first moment of out and out quality as Gaus crossed in from the left and Robert Pich arrived to drill the ball home.

Lasse Vibe – one of nine substitutions made by the Bees during the second half – saw a snapshot well saved and later presented a chance to Konstantin Kerschbaumer, but the midfielder couldn’t make a strong connection.

At the other end, English-raised Osayamen Osawe – an ex-Blackburn junior who spent a spell with non-League Southport – headed wide and Kacper Przybylko sent in a shot from distance which Dan Bentley collected.
Ryan Woods, who was tidy and efficient when he came on, drilled an effort just over the bar but both sides settled for the draw.

Brentford: Bentley; Colin (Ledesma 63), Dean, Egan (Holldack 73), Barbet (Field 73); McEachran (Kerschbaumer 63), McCormack (Clayton 82); Saunders (Woods 63), Sawyers (Mepham 73), MacLeod (Hofmann 63); Hogan (Vibe 46).
Sub not used: Bonham.