Veterans Lee Bowyer and Lee Carsley averted a Carling Cup shock as Birmingham came from behind to squeeze past Southampton 2-1 at St Mary's.

City looked like being on the wrong end of an upset after Adam Lallana fired Saints into a second-half lead.

Lallana, who has been with Saints since he was 12 and witnessed at first-hand their slide from the Premier League, via administration, to the foot of the third tier, struck with a superb curler to leave the Premier League visitors sweating.

But two goals in three minutes from Bowyer, 32, and 35-year-old Carsley - Blues' first goals from open play this season - saw Alex McLeish's side safely through.

Christian Benitez played in Bowyer to clip the ball past the helpless Davis and into the net.

Kelvin Davis saved a fierce shot from Benitez, but he could do nothing when Stuart Parnaby's low cross was sidefooted into the net by Carsley in the 80th minute.