Loan watch - Grant opens MLS account

It was a bittersweet night for Grant Ward on Wednesday, our on-loan midfielder bagging his first MLS goal for Chicago Fire – only for his side to suffer a 5-1 defeat at San Jose Earthquakes.

Having already hit the target once for Chicago in a US Open Cup tie last month, Grant opened his MLS account with a quarter of an hour left after being sent on as a 59th minute substitute with his side trailing in California.

It was 3-0 by the time the midfielder met Matt Watson’s pass, let the ball run across his body and rifled home from the edge of the box.

It proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal, however, as two further goals in the closing moments saw San Jose register a comfortable victory.

Another of our loanees, Alex Pritchard, was on the winning end of a 5-1 scoreline on Tuesday evening – his Brentford side beating Barnet at The Hive in a pre-season friendly.

The midfielder got the assist for Brentford’s fourth goal, his pinpoint low cross picking out Andre Gray to find the net as the newly-promoted Championship side overturned an early 1-0 deficit.

Alex played 61 minutes before being withdrawn.