Southend United 3-2 Bristol City
James Healey reports from Roots Hall

City exited the Carling Cup at the first hurdle to League Two side Southend United in extra time.

An early goal from Jamie McAllister and a neat finish from Ivan Sproule were not enough as City finished on the wrong side on a 3-2 score line.

City started the game having made three changes from the 3-0 defeat to Millwall at the weekend. Dean Gerken replaced David James, Gavin Williams and Lee Johnson both started in midfield with Cole Skuse dropping into the back-line to cover for the suspended Damion Stewart.

It took City two minutes to open the scoring. Albert Adomah held the ball up well before being fouled by Josh Simpson.

Gavin Williams and Jamie McAllister stood over the ball, until McAllister unleashed a venomous strike from 25-yards, which left Glenn Morris helpless in the Southend goal.

A minute later Southend could have pulled the score level when Matt Paterson looked certain to test Gerken but for a great sliding tackle by right-back Nicky Hunt.

Jamie McAllister celebrates his second-minute goal

On 13 minutes Ivan Sproule should have made it 2-0. David Clarkson beat Simpson on the left before pulling the ball back to an unmarked Sproule, who tried to control the ball only to see it end up in the thankful hands of keeper Morris.

Gerken was forced into making a full stretch save after 28 minutes. Lee Johnson fouled Sofiiene Zaaboub 25 yards from goal.

The midfielder picked himself up to send a shot, which had the City keeper scrambling to his right to tip the ball around the corner whilst at full stretch.

Southed equalised on the half-hour mark when Jamal Campbell-Ryce was adjudged to have fouled Anthony Grant just inside the 18-yard box.

Striker Paterson, who is one of only two players on Southend United's books who played last season, stepped up to smash the ball past Gerken into the net off the crossbar.

At half-time City made one substitute with Marvin Elliott coming on to replace Cole Skuse at centre back.

Matt Paterson equalises from the penalty spot for Southend

Louie Soares was the next person to test Gerken in the City goal. The Southend winger who was causing City problems on the right beat McAllister, who slipped on the wet surface after a heavy downpour to unleash a powerful strike, which the City shot stopper saved well with his feet.

Again Gerken showed why he is well thought off at Ashton Gate when he pulled off another great save, this time from midfielder Anthony Grant.

Grant picked to ball up from a pass from Soares and struck a sweet shot low to Gerken's right, the City glovesman was equal to the shot tipping the ball around the post to safety.

The League Two side had their tails up and Gerken was again forced to pull off a full stretch diving save to keep the scores level.

City made it 2-1 after 82 minutes Albert Adomah ran at the Southend defence and crossed the ball to find Sproule unmarked at the back post who managed to squeeze the ball under the diving Morris.

Southend equalised after 87 minutes to take the game into extra-time. Former City loanee Barry Corr headed home from six yards after a good cross from fellow substitute Scott Spencer.

Ivan Sproule thought he had won it for City late on

The blues almost scored right on the 90 minute mark if it wasn't for a last ditch block from McAllister.

Extra-time started slowly with both teams looking not to concede it wasn't until the 104th minute that a meaningful shot appeared and it gave Southend the lead.

Substitute Ryan Hall crossed to the unmarked Paterson who made no mistake with a powerful header past the wrong footed Gerken.

The second half of extra time filtered out in the drizzle with City not troubling Morris or the Southend defence.

Next up for City is a tricky away game at Doncaster Rovers.

City: Gerken; Hunt, Skuse (Elliott 46), Fontaine, McAllister; Williams, Johnson, Campbell-Ryce (Akinde 59); Sproule, Clarkson, Adomah (Jackson 94). Unused subs: James, Edwards, T.Williams, Styvar.

Att: 2940 - Away 307