AMSTERDAM – There was holiday action in England's Championship on Monday afternoon, with Tim Ream helping Bolton edge closer to clinching safety with a 3-0 victory at Cardiff City.
The US international held down the left side of a three-man back line as Bolton handed the Bluebirds their first shutout since February.
Ream led Wanderers with five interceptions – four of which came just outside the 18 – and added four clearances and a pair of cross blocks. The St. Louis native also completed nine passes in or into the attacking half, and didn’t commit a single foul or turnover.
Boosted by their first win in four, Bolton are now 13 points ahead of the drop zone, keeping the club in 16th-place in the Championship.
Things didn’t go as well for Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest, who suffered a late road collapse to draw 2-2 at Brentford.
The day seemed to be going the Reds' way until the home side hit twice in the final 10 minutes to steal a point. Playing at right back, Lichaj was unable to stop the cross on Brentford’s 80th-minute opener. They would add another deep into stoppage time, robbing Forest of a sorely-needed win.
Before the late troubles, it looked to be another exemplary shift from Lichaj, who finished with five interceptions and three blocked shots. Now winless in three, Forest stand 12 points shy of the promotion playoff zone with only five matches left to play.
Elsewhere, Duane Holmes was an unused sub in Huddersfield Town's 2-1 home triumph over Ipswich Town, as was Zak Whitbread when fifth-place Derby County halted a seven-game winless streak by winning 2-0 at Wigan.
