Nahki Wells made the perfect start to the preseason after netting a hat-trick and providing an assist to guide Bristol City to a thumping 4-0 home win over Cheltenham Town in a friendly today.

The Bermuda striker broke the deadlock at Ashton Gate in the seventh minute and then added two more just before the break to put the hosts firmly in control.

Andreas Weimann grabbed a late fourth to round off a solid display from Dean Holden’s side and condemn the visitors to their first defeat of the preseason.

“It was a good run out obviously,” Wells told the Bristol City website. “It’s always good to start off getting on the scoresheet and get the season going in what is our pre-season, so that’s important.”

Wells played the entire match, his first run out since returning from the summer break, which he passed with flying colours in terms of fitness.

“To get 90 minutes in the tank is always good as well,” he added. “I think we all felt good and we all performed well under the conditions.”

Wells opened the scoring when he dispatched a deflected cross from Jay Dasilva, the England youth international, in the bottom corner.

The former Dandy Town player added a second when he ran onto Niclas Eliasson’s through pass and clipped the ball past Joshua Griffiths, the Cheltenham goalkeeper, to double the home side’s advantage.

Wells then completed his treble before the dust had settled after rolling in Tyreeq Bakinson’s pass into the bottom left corner before setting up strike partner Weimann’s late strike.

Wells and Weimann led City’s line of attack superbly working in tandem in a dual-striking capacity.

“When we’ve played together I’ve always enjoyed it,” Wells said of the flourishing attacking partnership.

“I think we understand each other well and he allows me to kind of play at my strengths and he adapts to that, and that’s why it works really well.

“We were both able to get on the scoresheet today. I assisted him and he gave me the odd chance or two so long may that continue.”

Wells believes that he and his team-mates are adapting well to new manager Holden’s preferred style of play.

“The message isn’t too different to what it was at the end of the season,” he said. “A slight change, in terms of somewhat of the approach and more of a physical attribute to what he wants from us, so we’re all adapting.

“He wants us to play football. He still wants us to play on the front foot and get forward as quick as possible and score goals, for me that’s dream tactics for us forward players.”