AMSTERDAM – The American export injury bug bit Geoff Cameron on Saturday afternoon, with the Stoke City defender removed very early in a 2-0 Premier League loss against visiting Watford.
The US international departed a scoreless game after just nine minutes with what appeared to be a quad ailment. The result snapped Stoke's three-game win streak, dropping them to 14th place in the EPL.
Elsewhere, the late nightmares continued for Brad Guzan and Aston Villa in a 2-1 home loss to Swansea City.
The US 'keeper made the better of his two saves mere seconds before Jordan Ayew nodded the hosts ahead in the 62nd minute. However, Guzan was beaten by an equalizing free kick shortly thereafter and more defensive mishaps in front of him allowed the Swans to steal all three points on Andre Ayew's 87th minute winner – the fourth deciding goal leaked by Villa in the final 23 minutes already this season. Due to their fourth straight EPL defeat, the Villans stayed next-to-bottom in 19th.
One flight down in the Championship, Tim Ream and Fulham got well by knocking Daniel Williams' Reading out of second place with a 4-2 decision at Craven Cottage.
Returning from injury, the Fulham center back was among the culpable as Reading built a 2-0 lead. Ream would rally to win several challenges and notch a late block on a goal bound shot as the Cottagers hit four straight times in the span of 24 minutes to flip the game.
Fulham ended a four-match winless streak to reach 11th place. Williams, meanwhile, completed 49 of 55 passes and made four total defensive stops for the Royals, who slipped to seventh with the loss.
Eric Lichaj enjoyed another strong outing, this time in a three-man back line, as Nottingham Forest battled to a 1-1 draw with guests Ipswich Town.
The right defender piled up six clearances, four tackles, three interceptions and three cross blocks, but was beaten by the pinpoint 74th minute cross that allowed the Tractor Boys to grab the lead. Forest leveled deep into stoppage time, with Liam Trotter equalizing in the 95th minute. Nevertheless, the 16th place Reds remained winless in six.
Birmingham City defender Jonathan Spector was removed at the break as the visitors fell 2-0 at Hull City. The veteran and his partner were each culpable on a goal and both were replaced in a central tandem switch. With their four-game winning run halted, Birmingham slipped to sixth place.
Also, Charlie Horton served as Leeds United back-up goalkeeper for a 1-1 draw at Bolton.
Over in the Bundesliga, Timothy Chandler made a late cameo in Eintracht Frankfurt's 2-1 victory at Hannover 96. Thanks to their first win in six, the visitors rose to 11th place.
One league below, Bobby Wood and Union Berlin came up empty despite creating a hatful of good chances in a 2-0 home loss against Paderborn.
The forward nearly halved an early two-goal deficit with a header on the edge of halftime, only to watch it shave the wrong side of the post.
Ten minutes out of intermission, Wood was among a handful of Iron Union players to go close when he buzzed the crossbar with a drive. Winless in three, the capital crew fell to 14th in the table.
