AMSTERDAM – Bolton defender Tim Ream worked a highly active shift to no avail in a 1-0 Championship loss at Ipswich Town on Tuesday night.
The reigning Wanderers Player of the Season had a couple of early hiccups playing the left side of a three-man back line, but he was spared when goalkeeper Ben Amos smothered both chances with Tractor Boys ace Freddie Sears swarming. Ream would settle down to ring up a team-high 11 clearances, four pass interceptions, two tackles and a cross block while committing just one foul.
Ream also had impact at the offensive end, most notably when his sharp angled effort was cleared off the line by Ipswich midfielder Jonathan Parr on the stroke of halftime. In all, the St. Louis native managed to complete nine forward passes in or into the attacking half, despite having a relatively weak night with his long-ball game.
The Bolton No. 5 shirt was also involved in a pair of late plays that ended up cementing the result after switching to the heart of defense. Eleven minutes from time, a cross deflected off Ream, falling kindly for Jay Tabb to break the ice. Shortly thereafter, the American's pinpoint cross was agonizingly nudged just over the bar by a Craig Davies header in the hosts' best chance to level matters.
The defeat was 16th-place Bolton's sixth in a row away from home, the club's worst run of road futility in more than three years.
Also, Duane Holmes went unused as Huddersfield Town battled guests Norwich City to a 2-2 draw. The Terriers snapped a three-game slide to hold firm in 18th place.
