138 The Winter Transfer Part 1

Even though they were lagging behind, Sunderland was unwilling to accept defeat on their home ground. They mounted a large-scale counterattack in the final ten minutes of the game, hoping to even out the score. Tang En called off Rebrov, who was clearly exhausted, and brought on the Australian midfielder, Jacob Burns. This substitution was not intended to defend the midfield, but rather to launch a targeted offense on the midfield to replace an all-out attack on the opponent's entire field. Instead, after their lead, Tang En changed from being passively pressured by the home team, as they had in the first seventy-seven minutes, to using offense such that Sunderland dared not press on them too heavily. Jacob Burns' passing coordination was better than Rebrov's, and with him on the field, the Forest team had more control in the midfield.