Bristol City 3 Plymouth Argyle 1: City rediscovered their goal-den touch with a vengeance to shoot down their West Country rivals in fine style at Ashton Gate.

Goals have been hard to come by for the Robins this season and so it proved as they laboured to break down a gritty Argyle rearguard for 73 minutes.

But the game exploded into life when Danny Haynes fired City in front, sparking a remarkable salvo of four goals in six tumultuous minutes.

Jamie Mackie levelled matters in the 75th minute, only for Jamie McCombe to restore City’s advantage almost immediately.

And leading scorer Nicky Maynard made the game safe three minutes later, beating Romain Larrieu with a stunning 20 yard drive to register his eighth goal of the season.

This is the first time City have netted three goals in a game this season and their late show will serve to silence those critics who rounded on the manager and players following Saturday’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Peterborough.

Just as importantly, the victory keeps Gary Johnson’s side within touching distance of the play-off positions and will serve to instil confidence ahead of Saturday’s potentially tricky assignment at Barnsley.

But it was a miserable night for Argyle, who were watched by new head coach Paul Marriner for the first time. A ninth defeat in 11 games consigned the Pilgrims to the foot of the Coca-Cola Championship.

City boss Johnson announced three changes to his starting line-up following Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Peterborough. Paul Hartley returned in the centre of midfield at the expense of Lee Johnson, Danny Haynes replaced Marvin Elliott and Jamie McCombe was recalled to lead the side in the absence of Louis Carey, who was rested in order to protect his troublesome knee.

He then delivered a rousing team talk before leading his players to the centre circle to acknowledge the Ashton Gate crowd, a tactic which elicited a substantial ovation.

But it was the travelling contingent from Devon who had most to shout about when the action got underway, centre-back Shane Lowry testing Dean Gerken with a low drive which City’s keeper blocked with his legs.

City’s response was emphatic and Evander Sno, deployed in a midfield three for the first time since his arrival from Ajax, twice had efforts, a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box and a close-range header, deflected behind for corners.

Their recent poor form and lowly position notwithstanding, Argyle demonstrated a willingness to attack in numbers and a sweeping move culminated in former Paulton Rovers forward Ashley Barnes, who had a trial at Ashton Gate before joining the Pilgrims, turning his marker and directing a curling shot narrowly off target from 20 yards.

Johnson’s pre-match cosmetic surgery was having the desired effect and City were displaying greater energy and attacking intentions than against Posh four days earlier. Yet clear-cut chances in front of goal remained few and far between.

Argyle may have lost eight of their last 10 games, but Paul Sturrock’s team continued to present a threat on the break, Mackie seizing upon Karl Duguid’s raking pass and running at Jamie McAllister, who stood his ground to concede a corner.

Johnson had seen enough and opted to make a change in personnel and formation after 30 minutes, withdrawing the ineffectual Alvaro Saborio, sending on Carey to act as a third centre-back and reverting to the 3-5-2 system last deployed at Coventry on September 12.

It was Carey’s 551st appearance for his home-town club, bringing him level with Brian Tinnion in third place behind John Atyeo and Trevor Tainton on City’s all-time list.

The switch almost yielded immediate dividends, Bradley Orr pushing up on the right flank and whipping over a cross which the marauding Sno met first time, forcing a smart two-handed save from Larrieu.

Argyle hearts were in mouths moments later, Hartley letting fly with a ferocious shot from fully 35 yards which flew inches too high with Larrieu struggling to make his ground.

City’s best chance materialised three minutes before half time. Sno played Maynard in behind the covering defence and the striker’s firmly-struck shot was deflected just wide via the heel of the unwitting Larrieu’s boot.

The home side continued to hold sway after the break, Lewin Nyatanga rising unchecked to meet McAllister’s in-swinging corner with a header which just cleared the bar. Hungarian defender Krisztian Timar then used all his considerable bodily strength to hold off Maynard when the lively forward looked certain to score.

Argyle were being forced to drop increasingly deep and it was a case of all hands to the pump for the visitors when McAllister crossed for Sno to test Larrieu with a flicked header which just lacked the power to beat the Frenchman.

But the keeper was comprehensively undone by Hartley’s beautifully-struck free kick from a central position moments later. Unfortunately for City, his effort grazed the outside of a post on its way behind goal.

Johnson played his final hand on 66 minutes, introducing Gavin Williams and Ivan Sproule and switching to a 4-4-2 formation in an attempt to force a goal.

Sure enough, City grabbed the goal their dominance warranted eight minutes later, McAllister sending over an incisive cross from the left which Haynes bundled in from close range.

City’s lead lasted a mere two minutes, Mackie stunning Ashton Gate when beating Gerken with a superb angled strike from just inside the penalty area to pull Argyle level.

But the Robins were not to be denied and McCombe rose imperiously to head in another McAllister cross and restore the home side’s lead a minute later.

And Ashton Gate erupted when Maynard drove an unstoppable shot beyond Larrieu’s despairing dive to seal the points 11 minutes from time.

City (4-3-3): Gerken; Orr, McCombe, Nyatanga (Williams 66), McAllister; Sno (Sproule 66), Hartley, Skuse; Haynes, Saborio (Carey 30), Maynard.

Argyle (4-4-2): Larrieu; Gray, Timar, Lowry, Sawyer; Judge (Gow 79 mins), Duguid, Fletcher, Clark (Sheridan 88); Mackie, Barnes (Fallon 70).

Referee: Grant Hegley (Herts)

Attendance: 15,021