---
title: "Manchester City: Fans recall David James playing as a striker against Middlesbrough"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/man-city-fans-david-james-striker-middlesbrough/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Manchester City Football Club"
published: "2020-05-15T17:00:21Z"
modified: "2020-05-15T17:00:21Z"
---

# Manchester City: Fans recall David James playing as a striker against Middlesbrough

**Plenty of Manchester City fans have been recalling one of the most bizarre substitutions in the club’s history from 15 years ago today.**

On 15 May 2005, they hosted Middlesbrough on the final day of the Premier League season, with both teams vying for a UEFA Cup berth. City had to win to qualify for Europe but were being held 1-1 as the clock struck 88 minutes. \[via [mancity.com](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/nicky-weaver-middlesbrough-2005-63725071)\]

The stage seemed set for £5m striker Jon Macken to be deployed from the bench to find the crucial winner, but then-City manager Stuart Pearce had other ideas. Off came midfielder Claudio Reyna, to be replaced by…goalkeeper Nicky Weaver, with on-field number one David James sensationally utilised as an auxiliary forward. \[via [mancity.com](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/nicky-weaver-middlesbrough-2005-63725071)\]

\[freshpress-poll id=”298168″\]

As if that wasn’t dramatic enough, James was involved in the incident which led to City winning a stoppage time penalty, taken by Robbie Fowler. Unfortunately, a weak effort from the ex-Liverpool striker was easily saved by Mark Schwarzer and Middlesbrough clinched the final European spot at the home team’s expense. \[via [mancity.com](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/nicky-weaver-middlesbrough-2005-63725071)\]

These Manchester City fans on Twitter looked back on Pearce’s shock decision to play James up front on an “entertaining” afternoon at the Etihad Stadium:

> I was there. The ball hit the side netting when Fowler took the pen, and I jumped off my seat thinking it had gone in. I then went to sit back down and missed my seat. Summed up the day really. [https://t.co/DPuFQnHrPd](https://t.co/DPuFQnHrPd)
>
> — Steph Brawn (@BrawnJourno) [May 15, 2020](https://twitter.com/BrawnJourno/status/1261186234405261313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/abamford99\_/status/1261098758693101571

https://twitter.com/HBSauce98/status/1261205187286503424

> Definition of typical city [https://t.co/D5UQIqoLsY](https://t.co/D5UQIqoLsY)
>
> — ً. (@mcfcjude) [May 14, 2020](https://twitter.com/mcfcjude/status/1261070963208265733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/omarmcfc01/status/1261098709565288448

> I was there. At least it was entertaining.
>
> — Miles Grady (@milesgrady) [May 15, 2020](https://twitter.com/milesgrady/status/1261199932842741760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> The worst managerial decision ever!!
>
> — ian blair (@blairyib) [May 14, 2020](https://twitter.com/blairyib/status/1261081952465104901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> I hate that the outfield strip was ready for him
>
> — Doug (@DougStewart\_) [May 14, 2020](https://twitter.com/DougStewart_/status/1261070216051789824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Man City fans, what did you make of James being used as an emergency striker that day 15 years ago? Comment below with your thoughts!***