AMSTERDAM – Several Americans clocked in overseas on Saturday afternoon, and Geoff Cameron led the way with a strong shift at right back in Stoke City's 2-2 share with visiting West Ham United.
The US international was a constant nuisance moving forward up the flank, while staying busy on the defensive side of the ball. Cameron rang up team-leading totals with six tackles and three pass interceptions, while also sliding over to help with six clearances.
Cameron also had a chance to win the game in the waning moments, only to have his effort pawed away by West Ham 'keeper Adrian. Despite the point gained, the Potters slipped to 12th place.
Elsewhere, Tim Howard posted his second straight Premier League shutout at home, but Everton had to settle for 0-0 draw with guests Swansea City.
With his side keeping things tight at the back, the American was not forced into a single save. Now unbeaten in three, the Toffees stayed docked in ninth place.
One level down in the Championship, Reading midfielder Danny Williams made a 14-minute return from injury in Reading's 3-1 defeat at Blackburn. The midfielder showed no rust in the passing game, but the damage had already been done to send the Royals to their fourth loss in five.
Eric Lichaj also made his way back from a much briefer absence with 60 minutes of work as slumping Nottingham Forest fell 3-0 at Huddersfield Town. The Illinois native was clean on the ball and added five clearances, but it was far from enough to snap the 10th place Reds' eight-game Championship win drought.
Birmingham City loan winger Brek Shea provided a small spark in 26 relief minutes of a hard-fought 0-0 stalemate at Wolverhampton. The Brums halted a three-game losing slide to climb a rung to 22nd place, but remained in the bottom three with but one victory in their last 14 overall matches.
New Charlton pick-up Oguchi Onyewu went unused as the home side posted a 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday. The ninth-place Addicks ran their league unbeaten streak to nine games.
Likewise, Emerson Hyndman watched from the dugout as Fulham clawed back twice for a 3-3 share at Wigan. Suddenly unbeaten in four, the Cottagers held firm in 20th place.
Over in the Bundesliga, Timothy Chandler reclaimed the right back spot for Eintracht Frankfurt's harsh 1-0 loss at Hannover 96. Due to Alexander Madlung's late own goal, the 12th-place visitors suffered their third consecutive loss.
Finally, in Belgium's Jupiler League, Sacha Kljestan was an unused sub as Anderlecht scored near time to rescue a 1-1 home draw against Lokeren. With but one win in five, the champs are vulnerable to losing the league penthouse when Club Brugge plays on Sund
