Nahki Wells opened his account in his second appearance of the season to help Bristol City clear the first hurdle in the Carabao Cup.

The forward grabbed the hosts fourth goal and also had an assist in an emphatic 5-1 demolition of 1986 League Cup winners Oxford United at Ashton Gate on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old found the net 51st minute after running onto a through pass from Jason Knight, calmly rounding Oxford goalkeeper James Beadle and slotting into the empty net.

Wells then went from scorer to provider as he laid on the pass behind the defence which substitute Kal Naismith buried before paving the way for Ephraim Yeboah to come off the bench and make his debut for City.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the fifteenth minute after absorbing some early pressure when Harry Cornick whipped in Haydon Roberts’ pull back from close range.

But the visitors battled on and were rewarded in the 29th minute when Billy Bodin headed in Fin Stevens’ cross at the back post to bring the teams level again.

However, City regained the lead for good in the 36th minute when Knight converted Anis Mehmeti’s cross for his first goal for the club.

The midfielder squandered a glorious opportunity after failing to capitalise on a breakaway just before the break but made amends shortly after play resumed by charging into the box to lash in Robert’s cross and double the hosts lead.

Knight then set up Wells’ tally before Naismth completed the rout that catapulted Nigel Pearson’s team through to the second round of the competition.