AMSTERDAM -- Brad Guzan and Aston Villa remain concerned about EPL survival after being dealt a tough 4-1 loss at Swansea City.
The former Chivas USA man logged four saves and claimed six crosses, but will be kicking himself after being lobbed from about 50 yards by defensive turnover recipient Jonjo Shelvey for the Swans' winning goal on 26 minutes. Now winless in six, Villa stand just four points above the relegation fray with three matches to play.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, a solid showing from Geoff Cameron went to waste as 10-man Stoke City fell 1-0 against visiting Tottenham.
With Brad Friedel watching from the Spurs dugout, the Potters right back kept busy putting out fires in his own end while also helping the shorthanded hosts win the possession battle. Stoke surrendered a four-game Britannia win streak, losing their first home game since January 12, to remain docked in 10th place.
One floor down in the Championship, Bolton left back Tim Ream set up the insurance marker in a 3-1 victory away to Oguchi Onyewu's Sheffield Wednesday.
The US World Cup hopeful picked up his fourth assist of the season the easy way, feeding Liam Trotter for a cracker from long distance that put Wanderers up three at the half-hour mark. It was part of another strong overall effort from Ream, who helped 14th-place Bolton win for the fourth time in an eight-game road unbeaten run.
However, Onyewu worked a lukewarm shift in the heart of the Owls defense despite not being at fault on any of the Bolton goals. Fifteenth-place Wednesday have dropped three of four winless games at home.
Jonathan Spector returned from a game in the Birmingham City injury ward to go the distance at center back in a 3-1 home loss to Leeds United.
The handyman topped his team with eight clearances and four tackles, but was among the beaten on the Leeds opener midway through the second half. Birmingham slipped into the bottom three by losing for the fourth straight time, though they still hold a game in hand and a large goal differential edge on the Doncaster side one point ahead of them.
Meanwhile, Duane Holmes made his first Huddersfield Town start since October in a 2-0 home loss to league champs Leicester City. The young playmaker departed after 63 minutes having passed well without any end product.
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
