AMSTERDAM – Three Americans clocked in for English Championship duty on Tuesday, with Tim Ream and Bolton moving to the brink of clinching survival thanks to a 2-1 victory at Doncaster.
The World Cup hopeful went the distance at left back, helping Wanderers move to within a win of ensuring their place in the second flight for next season. Ream could have notched an assist in the waning moments, only to watch David Wheater get robbed at the end of his free kick.
Fourteenth-place Bolton have now won three of four, with the defense conceding just twice in that span. The club have also gone six road games without a loss, their longest such streak since they were a Premier League side in 2005.
Elsewhere, Jonathan Spector worked 83 minutes at right back and Will Packwood remained a bench spectator as Birmingham City fell 3-1 at Middlesbrough.
The US international made a cheeky bid to set up an icebreaker midway through the opening frame, but his backheel pass across the goalmouth somehow found no takers. Despite being down just a goal when Boro had two men sent off late, Birmingham were unable to rally, seeing their cushion on the drop zone sliced to four points.
Finally, Duane Holmes produced an attacking spark off the bench, but not more as Huddersfield Town dropped a 2-0 result against visiting Ipswich Town.
The diminutive playmaker deftly set up his side's first shot on target in the 80th minute, but teammate Oscar Gobern was denied by a strong kick save. Though winless in eight, Huddersfield still stand seven points and five places above the trap door with five games remaining.
