It was a debut to forget for Southend's keeper but it was a home debut to remember for the man between the sticks for the Tigers whose last-minute heroics ensured that City held on for all three points.
But it didn't start well for City. After just three minutes Leon Constantine was in the right place at the right time to pounce with a 25-yard daisycutter which completely evaded all of City's defenders and crept into the back of the net, making it the Shrimpers' first away goal since March.
It took City a while to come back and on 16 minutes a header from Ben Burgess from just yards out was superbly tipped away by Ryan Robinson.
Danny Allsopp and Stuart Ellliott both hit the target, but it wasn't until the 43rd minute that City were level.
Allsopp capitalised on a dreadful mistake by Robinson, who fumbled on the edge of the area and the forward stroked the ball in from a very acute angle.
In the 59th minute Tigers defender Andy Dawson put City 2-1 up after a wreckless foul by Mark Warren on the edge of the area.
The Tigers defender stepped up and curled the 25-yard free-kick almost effortlessly over Robinson and into the net.
After 74 minutes Robinson fumbled again, this time from a long cross by Whittle, leaving Elliott with the simple task to slot into an open goal from ten yards.
On 82 minutes Tes Bramble nodded in to make it 3-2, setting up a tense final few minutes, and three minutes later David McSweeney was sent off for a second bookable offence.
But the drama was not over and the referee awarded a penalty to Southend for which Dawson later admitted he had been shirtpulling.
Tigers keeper Michels Kuipers did well to stop Bramble's spot-kick and he got up to superbly tip away the rebound earning hugs from his fellow players and rapturous applause from the home fans.