Report: Bristol City 4-1 Plymouth Argyle

City secured their first home league win of the season in emphatic fashion with four different scorers seeing off the Pilgrims.

Sam Bell opened the account in the third minute, Matty James aded a second in the ninth and, by the time Mark Sykes shot past goalkeeper Conor Hazard, the Robins were well on their way to victory.

By then Argyle had pulled a goal back through Adam Randell to make it 3-1 at half-time but Harry Cornick’s 80th-minute first league goal of the season put the game beyond reach.

Manager Nigel Pearson named the same XI that started against West Bromwich Albion three days earlier, with one change on the bench as Taylor Gardner-Hickman replaced Jamie Knight-Lebel.

And it was a dream start for the Robins with George Tanner winning a corner, Kal Naismith going short to Joe Williams and his cross was met by Bell for a shot that hit Kaine Kesler-Hayden and went across the line.

By the ninth minute it was two as Jason Knight’s cross was parried by Hazard and James fired into the top of the net.

City were flying by now, Bell having a shot saved by Hazard, before Plymouth settled and were able to push forward themselves, resulting in Tyreik Wright putting a cross over at the far post.

The Pilgrims scored against the run of play as Randell connected with a loose ball on edge of the box and shot low beyond Max O’Leary.

City mounted the perfect response when Knight’s long ball put Sykes clear and the Irish international made no mistake to score beyond Hazard.

The final chance of the half fell to Argyle, who intercepted O’Leary’s clearance and Ben Waine put his shot wide.

Argle came out firing in the second half and it took City 10 minutes to settle before Bell cut in and shot past the post.

On the hour-mark City made a triple substitution with Ephraim Yeboah on for Sykes, Cornick for Wells, and Gardner-Hickman for Knight while, 10 minutes later, Andy King came on for Joe Williams and Haydon Roberts for Bell.

And the switches paid dividends with Naismith finding Cornick in the box and the forward took a touch before putting the ball past Hazard.

Argyle’s top scorer Ryan Hardie, a second-half replacement, almost pulled a goal back when he hit the post but he was no match for Zak Vyner, who pulled off a recovery tackle to deny the Championship’s top scorer and keep City’s three-goal cushion.

Team: O’Leary (GK), Tanner, Vyner, Naismith, Pring, James (c), Williams (King 70), Knight (Gardner-Hickman 60), Sykes (Yeoboah 60), Wells (Cornick 60), Bell (Roberts 70). Substitutes (not used): Bajic (GK), Dickie, Mehmeti, Nelson.