On the Edge of the List

On the touchline, Hayes did not smile. But he wrote one line in his notebook. In the sixtieth minute, Hayes prepared to substitute Mason. The doctor was already standing at the sideline. Mason saw him and walked to Hayes first. "Give me fifteen more minutes." The doctor immediately shook his head. "No." Hayes stared at Mason. "Reason." "They've started worrying about me dropping off. Brooks will push higher. He'll want to end the match with a third." "So?" "So there'll be space behind him." Hayes looked at him for three seconds, then turned to the doctor. "Fifteen minutes." The doctor cursed under his breath. In the sixty-eighth minute, Brooks did push up to the edge of the box.