After last season’s experiences Coventry City’s supporters were hardly likely to be getting carried away by winning their first two Championship games and the more pessimistic among them would not have been surprised that it was Bristol City who burst their bubble.

Twelve months ago Coventry won three and drew one of their opening four matches before losing to Bristol by the same scoreline as yesterday to set in motion a slump that was barely arrested until Chris Coleman arrived as manager to secure safety by a solitary point.

Bristol, on the other hand, mounted a promotion challenge that only ended in a playoff final defeat and the way they have shrugged off that disappointment suggests they are capable of at least the same again.

Goals from Dele Adebola, Michael McIndoe and substitute Steve Brooker in another refreshingly positive away performance extended Bristol’s unbeaten start, with manager Gary Johnson’s only concern an injury to captain and centre-half Louis Carey.

Coventry started sluggishly, despite the best efforts of Michael Mifsud. Wanted by Bristol City earlier in the summer, and criticised by Johnson for his “unprofessional behaviour” when the proposed move collapsed at the 11th hour, the Maltese international did his best to show what the Robins were missing.

Adebola, who gave almost five years of sterling service to the Sky Blues before switching clubs in January, put Bristol ahead after 17 minutes. Given a warm welcome back by the home supporters before kick-off, the powerful striker was then booed every time he touched the ball and the catcalls increased after he ended goalkeeper Keiren Westwood’s afternoon in the process of scoring.

Given McIndoe’s hanging cross to attack, Adebola collided with ball and keeper at the same time and even though Danny Fox kept out his initial header, Adebola rather than the stricken Westwood recovered to get the decisive touch.

Coventry’s attack had little penetration until after manager Coleman had been sent to the stands for arguing with referee Phil Dowd in the dying moments of the first half. His outburst followed a rejected penalty appeal for an apparent tug on Clinton Morrison. Freddy Eastwood, Coventry’s big-money summer signing, again looked off the pace and was replaced by Leon McKenzie.

Bristol doubled their lead nine minutes after the break. Again Adebola was involved with a layoff for McIndoe who, despite a tight angle, was able to shoot past substitute keeper Andy Marshall and in off the post.

Bristol were not content just to rest on their lead, and after Marshall had denied Ivan Sproule and Morrison had hit a post at the other end they got their third when substitute Brooker volleyed in from a pass from fellow substitute Sproule.

COVENTRY: Westwood 4 (Marshall 21min, 6), Gunnarsson 6, Ward 5, Dann 5, Fox 5, Mifsud 7 (Simpson 73min), Beuzelin 5, Tabb 6, Gray 5, Morrison 6, Eastwood 4 (McKenzie ht, 6).

BRISTOL CITY: Basso 7, Orr 7, Carey 7 (Webster 64min), Fontaine 7, McAllister 6, Wilson 7, Skuse 6, Johnson 7, McIndoe 8, Adebola 8 (Brooker 76min), Maynard 6 (Sproule 80min)

Star man: Dele Adebola (Bristol City)
Referee: P Dowd
Attendance: 17,994