SPARE a thought for Dean Gerken and Stephen Henderson, who have been completely overlooked amid the media fanfare that greeted the arrival of England goalkeeper David James.

Having endured the rigours of pre-season in the belief they were competing for a place in the starting line-up to face Millwall in this Saturday's Championship curtain-raiser at Ashton Gate, the pair unexpectedly find themselves in a position where a seat on the bench is the best they can hope for.

As if that was not bad enough, both were required to play a half in this final dress rehearsal, while the man who has been signed to replace them watched from the grandstand.

To their credit, Gerken and Henderson did what was asked of them, keeping a clean sheet as City completed their friendly programme with a confidence-boosting victory over the Premier League newcomers.

But no matter how professional their conduct, they could be excused for not sharing in the almost universal euphoria engendered by the capture of a player whose last game was for England against Germany in the knockout stages of the World Cup finals.

City manager Steve Coppell broke the news to his two young goalkeepers on Friday, and he admitted: "It was a blow to them when I told them. They have done well in pre-season and to be told, all of a sudden, that we're signing the England goalkeeper, must be difficult.

"David James is not coming here to sit on the bench, he is going to start, and it is obvious three into one doesn't go. But they are professionals and they will still get paid.

"From the moment I told them both on Friday, they have been very professional and I thought they were exemplary in playing a half each in this game. They have to remember that David James will be a great person to learn from."

James was introduced to the Ashton Gate crowd prior to kick-off and, not surprisingly, the presence of England's number one served to overshadow events on the pitch. It was a case of seeing is believing for supporters, many of whom cast doubt upon the media speculation which preceded his arrival.

City winger Ivan Sproule, for one, refused to believe the rumours until he saw James' car parked behind the Atyeo Stand on Friday afternoon.

He recalled: "When I was first told we might be signing David James, I thought it was a wind-up. It came as a total shock and I was not sure whether to believe it or not.

"But then we came back from training and saw this car with 'JAMES' on the registration plate and knew it must be happening.

"I think all the lads were surprised, but it's great to have a player of his calibre on board. It shows the chairman and the manager are serious about getting into the Premier League and David James is someone we can all learn from."

Gerken and Henderson are not the only ones to have their noses pushed out of joint by the hype surrounding arguably the most remarkable transfer of the summer so far. Fellow new signings Nicky Hunt and Damion Stewart, recruited from Bolton Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers respectively, were almost forgotten amid all the hullabaloo.

Both did enough on debut, however, to demonstrate why manager Steve Coppell opted to employ them in the first place. One of those old-style centre-halves euphemistically referred to as a 'unit', centre-back Stewart summoned the kind of no-nonsense performance that suggests he will scarcely endear himself to Championship strikers this season.

For his part, right-back Hunt proved steady in defence, willing to press forward whenever possible and adept at finding strikers with telling crosses before going over on an ankle and limping off midway through the second half.

Coppell also saw Wales international defender Lewin Nyatanga depart the field on a stretcher after damaging medial knee ligaments. He will almost certainly join Louis Carey, Nicky Maynard, Danny Haynes and Kalifa Cisse in missing the start of the season, while Hunt remains touch and go for the opening game against Millwall.

On a positive note, City conjured their best performance of pre-season during a first half in which they demonstrated unity of purpose and a level of cohesion seldom witnessed in previous outings.

Not overly blessed with striking options, Coppell plumped for a 4-3-3 formation which required wingers Albert Adomah and Sproule to support lone striker David Clarkson when City were in possession, and assist full-backs Jamie McAllister and Hunt whenever Blackpool attacked.

Solid when defending with nine men behind the ball, City harnessed pace and invention to twice unhinge a Seasiders back four which seems certain to be exposed in the Premier League this season.

Almost sure to start against Millwall, Clarkson made the first goal on 23 minutes, slipping a neat through-ball into the path of Sproule, who outpaced Ian Evatt before nonchalantly beating goalkeeper Paul Rachubka with a flick of his right boot.

Clarkson displayed predatory instincts three minutes later, Evatt declining to take responsibility for dealing with an incisive through-ball from the impressive Cole Skuse and allowing the Scot to slide his shot between the stranded keeper and the far post.

A week behind in their preparations, last season's play-off winners scarcely threatened as an attacking force and, as so often at this time of year, it would be unwise to read too much into the result.

Coppell said: "It will be very different when we play Millwall here next week. They have just won promotion, are accustomed to winning and will not have a pre-season mentality.

"The tempo, the urgency and the desire will be totally different and, although I was pleased with the formation we played against Blackpool, that doesn't mean I will retain it when we play Millwall. We will have to have a rethink to make sure we are competitive."

City (4-3-3): Gerken (Henderson 46); Hunt (Akinde 66), Stewart, Fontaine (Nyatanga 46, Taylor 74), McAllister (T Williams 46); Elliott (G Williams 46), Skuse (Johnson 46), Campbell-Ryce (Edwards 58); Sproule, Clarkson (Jackson 66), Adomah.

Blackpool (4-5-1): Rachubka; Calve (Eastham 70), Baptiste, Evatt, Crainey; Demontagnac, Adam, Southern (Coid 87), Vaughan (Sunny 55), Ormerod (Dtomoyossi 61); Taylor-Fletcher (Euell 46).

Referee: Steve Tanner.

Attendance: 4,629.