Debutant Ellis Simms scored twice as Sunderland got their Championship campaign up and running with their first win of the season. On-loan Everton striker Simms needed less than five minutes to make his mark as he fired the Black Cats in front, only for Andreas Weimann to equalise for Bristol City minutes later.
The Robins then went in front shortly after half-time through Chris Martin, before Sunderland fought back with a vengeance. Simms scored his second goal almost immediately to level things up once more, and then Ross Stewart headed the winner 20 minutes from time.
The inclusion of Simms was the only change made by Alex Neil to the side that started last weekend's opening day draw against Coventry City on Wearside, with Elliot Embleton dropping to the bench. And the addition of a second forward allowed Neil to switch to playing with a back three at Ashton Gate.
READ MORE: Bristol City 2-3 Sunderland: Highlights and reaction as Black Cats notch first win of season
Leon Dajaku was included amongst the subs after missing last weekend's game as he recovered from illness, with Trai Hume making way. But there was still no place in the matchday squad for either Carl Winchester or Jay Matete.
Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson intended to name the same side that began last weekend's defeat at Hull City, but an injury to Matty James in the warm-up forced him into a late change with Han-Noah Massengo promoted from the bench. The game started at a frantic pace, with Black Cats skipper Corry Evans booked after only 30 seconds for a foul on Massengo in the first tackle of the game.
And there was no let-up as Sunderland went in front after only four minutes. The hosts tried to play the ball out from the back and made a mess of it, with Ross Stewart challenging Kal Naismith just outside the area and the loose ball came to Simms who had time to take a touch and lash a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
But their lead did not last long, with City hauling themselves level just five minutes later. Zak Vyker's pass found Weimann unmarked by the penalty spot, and as Lynden Gooch appealed in vain for offside, the Austrian took a touch before firing past Anthony Patterson.
Alex Scott's crossfield pass then set up a chance for Jay Dasilva, but the wingback was put under pressure by Gooch and his effort went across the face of goal. Just after the half-hour, Sunderland had a lucky escape when Scott danced into the penalty area and laid the ball off to his left for Martin, and his deflected shot beat Patterson but Jack Clarke had raced back and was able to clear off the line.
At the other end, Alex Pritchard's clever reverse pass released Clarke down the left and he tried to set up Simms with an early cross, but a defender managed to get his toe to it first and send it behind for a corner. Just before half-time, Dan Neil's ball over the top set Simms away but he hesitated inside the penalty area which allowed a defender to put him under pressure, and when he finally got his shot away it was high over the bar.
And then in injury-time at the end of the first period, a Pritchard corner was cleared only as far as Evans just outside the box, and his first-time shot was shovelled away by the keeper. Sunderland made a positive start in the second half, with Evans again finding a shooting chance following a corner although this time he was off-target.
But Bristol went ahead in the 51st minute, as Joe Williams' ball into the penalty area on the right was collected by Weimann and he squared for Martin to bundle home from close range. Sunderland were level within two minutes, and it was Simms on target once again.
Stewart and Pritchard combined outside the penalty area, with the latter playing the ball to Simms and it looked at first as though he had waited too long as he shifted the ball onto his right foot, but instead his low shot flew through keeper Dan Bentley's legs and into the net. Just after the hour, Bentley made a brilliant block with his legs to prevent Simms completing his hat-trick, after he had turned Clarke's cross goalwards from close range.
But there was nothing the keeper could do on 72 minutes as Stewart opened his account for the season. Clarke found Pritchard with a quickly-taken throw, and his cross was met by Stewart at the far post to power his header past Bentley.
The hosts piled on the pressure late in the game, and Daniel Ballard made a fine block to deny Rob Atkinson when it seemed he must score. Then Martin somehow missed the target from three yards after Williams had got to the byline on the right and squared the ball to him.
But Sunderland managed the final minutes of the game to hang on to a precious three points on the road.
How they lined up
Bristol City: Bentley, Vyner (Klose 66), Naismith, Atkinson, Sykes (Wilson 66), Williams, Massengo (Conway 76), Dasilva (Wells 87), Scott, Weimann, Martin. Subs not used: O'Leary, King
Booked: Williams, Sykes
Sunderland: Patterson, Ballard, Batth, Cirkin, Gooch, Evans, Neil, Pritchard (Embleton 81), Clarke (Alese 87), Simms (Dajaku 90+1), Stewart. Subs not used: Bass, Roberts, O'Nien, Wright
Booked: Evans, Cirkin
Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire)
Attendance: 24,543
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