Ellis Simms scored within three minutes after coming on for Coventry City
Coventry City got their season going at the second time of asking as Ellis Simms came off the bench to earn the Sky Blues a second-half Carabao Cup first-round 1-0 win at Bristol City.
Having been beaten 1-0 at Stoke in the Championship on Saturday, Sky Blues boss Mark Robins was rewarded at Ashton Gate for his fearless five-man substitution on 62 minutes.
Within three minutes, Kasey Palmer, one of the five outfield players left on, caressed a beautiful, 30-yard right-foot pass into the path of the newly-arrived Simms - and he drilled home right-footed on the angle.
Simms' first goal of the season - to add to the 19 he got last term following his summer arrival from Everton - proved enough to see the visitors into the second round.
Recalled Coventry keeper Ben Wilson had to make a double save before the break from Nahki Wells and Sam Bell before diving to keep out a shot from Fally Mayulu.
But Brandon Thomas-Asante - on his first Coventry start - did force home keeper Stefan Bajic into two saves before Robins went for his five-man overhaul.
Simms replaced last season's top scorer Haji Wright and he wasted no time in settling the tie.
Last season's FA Cup semi-finalists did have one moment of late concern when home substitute Anis Mehmeti thought he had equalised, but the diving Wilson saved.
Liam Manning's post-match reaction after Bristol City lost 0-1 to Coventry City.
