Championship new-boys Millwall gate-crashed City's opening-day party in spectacular fashion to silence Ashton Gate. Billed as the beginning of the Steve Coppell era, the match also saw England number one David James make his much-anticipated debut. But Bristolian expectations were sent crashing as the Lions completed a stunning hit-and-run raid to ruin Coppell's big day.
Bristol Evening Post
David James suffered a nightmare debut to leave boss Steve Coppell demanding a massive improvement from his City flops. While James' England World Cup team-mates do not begin their Premier League campaigns until next week, he suffered a miserable return to club duty. It was his first game since England's humiliating 4-1 defeat to Germany in the last 16 of the World Cup - and once again he found himself on the receiving end of a spanking. James' new side were left embarrassed by Championship newcomers Millwall, who battled for 26 minutes with 10 men.
News of the World
The good news was that David James made one exceptional save to justify his claim he should still be Fabio Capello's first-choice goalkeeper. The bad news? How long have you got? Firstly, England manager Capello never bothered to send anybody to Ashton Gate to check out his World Cup keeper's first appearance in the Championship. Secondly, James found himself behind a defence that fell apart as new boys Millwall burst all the pre-season excitement at Ashton Gate in one dismal day.
Sunday Mirror
Different venue, same old story for David James. Five weeks on from England's calamitous World Cup exit at the hands of Germany in Blomfontein, James once again suffered that sinking feeling as his new club Bristol City suffered an inauspicious start to the new campaign. This time, instead of Thomas Mueller, Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose, it was Darren Ward, Danny Schofield and Paul Robinson who left England's incumbent empty handed. A day that began with so much hope and expectation, finished in desperate fashion as last season's League One play-off winners shrugged off Darren Carter's red card to win at a canter.
Sunday Telegraph
Five weeks ago he was picking a shot from Thomas Muller out of the back of the net as Germany completed a 4-1 rout in the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein before England slunk home from the World Cup in disgrace. Fast forward to the opening day of the new season and David James made his debut at Ashton Gate for his seventh club, Bristol City, a Championship outfit with big ambitions. But pretty soon the veteran goalkeeper was feeling a similar sensation to one he last experienced while on England duty, as the defence in front of him opened up and the ball flashed past him into the net.
Mail on Sunday
Millwall celebrated their return to the npower Championship by subjecting David James to a torrid afternoon in a 3-0 victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate. The England goalkeeper was beaten by Darren Ward and Danny Schofield either side of half-time before Paul Robinson put the Lions in dreamland on the hour mark, but there was a sour note to Millwall's day as Darren Carter was sent off for two bookable offences.
PA
