Bolton defender Tim Ream admits fighting Premier League relegation is not much fun - but he has no regrets about crossing the Atlantic.
USA star determined to keep Bolton in the Premier League
Bolton's American defender Tim Ream admits fighting Premier League relegation is not much fun - but he has no regrets about crossing the Atlantic.
Ream, 24, was pitched straight into the Trotters' survival battle after completing a protracted £2.5million move from MLS side New York Red Bulls in January.
Battling against the drop was an unknown concept for Ream after spending his whole career in the MLS which does not have a relegation system.
But the United States international, who has played every minute of Bolton's last nine top-flight games, has proved he is more than up for the scrap.
Pressure
"It's definitely a different dynamic coming from a league that doesn't have relegation. And I think that's where the pressure side of it comes in," said the centre-back.
"You don't really feel pressure game-in and game-out like you do here.
"It's not fun by any means. It makes for some ugly games, and some rough games.
"But what it comes down to is just fighting, fighting to stay up. That's the biggest thing. It doesn't matter how you do it.
"At the end of the day, we're the ones trying to stay up and fight not to get relegated."
Decisions
Ream, who signed a three-and-a-half year deal at the Reebok Stadium, would have no qualms about playing in the Championship if Bolton were relegated.
"I'm not one to second-guess and regret decisions," he told
The Independent.
"Whether we do or don't get relegated, it doesn't matter. I signed the contract and I'm here.
"Obviously I would like to stay up, but at the end of the day it's up to us whether we do or not.
"If we don't, we have to live with it, and we'll keep plugging away."
