Former England World Cup goalkeeper David James insisted that he would still be in the international reckoning despite joining npower League Championship side Bristol City this summer. However, after being rested in his new team’s Carling Cup tie against Southend United, defeat against the League Two side is unlikely to put him in England boss Fabio Capello’s radar much.

City boss Steve Coppell did not bring on the 40-year-old in place of starting Dean Gerken who admittedly did a good job ensuring the final scoreline was still respectable to the visitors in some way.

Thankfully also for James as there was little of a crowd to see his fall from grace – from playing and winning an FA Cup final two seasons ago with Portsmouth to going out of the Carling Cup with City.

After conceding three goals on his debut with City last Saturday against Millwall, Coppell chose to give James a rest but the final result was hardly any better for the ambitious club. Having targeted promotion to the Premier League this season, the inauspicious start to their season may not bode well for the future of the former Crystal Palace boss.

City had gone into the lead through defender Jamie McAllister who fired in a free kick on two minutes. The visitors were put on the back foot increasingly though and eventually conceded the equaliser via the penalty spot through Southend’s Matt Paterson.

City thought they had stolen the game when Ivan Sproule scored his side’s second in the 82nd minute. However, Southend came back six minutes later when striker Barry Corr was first to a Scott Spencer cross and headed in the hosts’ second equaliser on the night.

Extra time came as a winner had to be decided on the night. There was no denying the feisty League Two club – who had to bring in a slew of new players on a budget after a summer clearout due to financial restraints – as Paterson scored his second of the night in the 104th minute to end James’ involvement in the competition at the first hurdle.

Tags: Bristol City, Carling Cup, David James, English League Championship, Match Review, Southend United