AMSTERDAM – It was another heavy Saturday workload for Americans playing in England, with Brad Guzan continuing his fine form in Aston Villa's 0-0 stalemate away to former loan employers Hull City.
The former Chivas USA netminder needed just one save to record his second straight road shutout, but it was a good one. Guzan diffused a long range Tom Huddlestone missile just ahead of intermission as Villa tentatively rose to ninth place.
Despite a strong outing from Tim Howard, the day didn't go so well for fifth-place Everton, who suffered their first loss of the season in a 3-1 humbling at Manchester City.
The US No. 1 made four fine stops, but was quite unlucky to ring up an own goal for the Citeh capper. Howard pushed Sergio Agüero's controversially-given 69th minute spot kick onto the post, only to have it then carom in the net off his head.
Jozy Altidore was again starved for service as bottom feeders Sunderland blew an early lead in their 2-1 home loss to defending champs Manchester United. The Black Cats have now fallen in five straight Premier League matches for the first time since March of 2006.
Stoke City right back Geoff Cameron pitched in with a decent outing as the visitors dropped a late 1-0 decision to Fulham. The Potters lost for the third straight time in slipping to 16th place.
One level down in the Championship, birthday boy Tim Ream put in another shining performance in defense as Bolton finally broke their duck with a 2-1 win away to Jonathan Spector's Birmingham City.
Both Americans went the distance, but it was the in-form Ream celebrating after Wanderers vaulted out of the drop zone with their first victory since April. Birmingham now stand just a point ahead of Bolton in 19th place.
Turning to the Bundesliga, Jermaine Jones watched from the dugout as Schalke rose to eighth place on the back of a 4-1 defeat of visiting Augsburg.
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
