Nahki Wells scored a 76th-minute penalty as Bristol City came from behind to beat Oxford 2-1 in an entertaining Championship clash at Ashton Gate.

The visitors took a 28th-minute lead when Siriki Dembele’s driving run drew defenders to him and the ball broke into the box for an unmarked Ruben Rodrigues to volley past Max O’Leary from 12 yards.

City were level on 57 minutes, Sinclair Armstrong meeting Jason Knight’s low cross from the right with a first-time finish that Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming could not keep out.

Wells’ spot-kick followed a disputed trip by Mark Harris on Haydon Roberts and was ruthlessly dispatched by the experienced striker, who found the top corner with a right-footed rocket.

It was a sweet moment for City head coach Liam Manning, who had endured endless baiting by the huge following of fans from his former club Oxford.

Both sides created chances in an action-packed first half in which City were made to pay for some poor finishing. Anis Mehmeti set the tone by shooting straight at Cumming on 14 minutes.

Two minutes later Armstrong met a Roberts cross from the left with a header on the run that passed the wrong side of the far post.

Oxford’s first effort of note came on 19 minutes when Tyler Goodrham sent a half-volley over the crossbar from Greg Leigh’s left-wing cross. But City should have been in front a minute later when Mehmeti broke onto a Scott Twine pass only to shoot tamely at Cumming.

Mehmeti had another shot saved on 27 minutes, again set up by Twine, but within moments it was the Oxford fans celebrating Rodrigues’ well-taken goal.

Twine had an effort blocked, while at the other end Harris shot straight at O’Leary from the edge of the box. Armstrong then headed over from a pinpoint Roberts cross.

City almost fell further behind on 41 minutes when Dembele hit the crossbar with a superb right-footed shot from the corner of the box. Oxford were then forced into a change when Josh McEachran went off to be replaced by Will Vaulks.

Manning made a switch at the break, giving an Ashton Gate debut to winger Yu Hirakawa in place of Joe Williams. The newcomer was soon exciting home fans with some bursts down the right flank and Twine shot over in a bright City start to the second period.

Harris should have doubled Oxford’s lead on 54 minutes, somehow side-footing wide of an open goal from Rodrigues’ low cross. It proved an expensive miss as Armstrong equalised three minutes later to turn the game.

Oxford never created as good an opportunity again and City deservedly edged a game that did credit to both teams.

The managers

Bristol City’s Liam Manning:

“If the Oxford fans hate me for leaving, I take it as a compliment over where the club was when I went there and where they were when I left.

“I don’t want to spend time talking about it. There are some terrific people at Oxford United, but the past is the past and you move on. I love being at Bristol City and I am excited by what we are building.

“I’m pleased for our supporters, who were brilliant today. We didn’t deserve to be behind at half-time and in the second half the lads really got on the front foot and took the game to Oxford.

“I haven’t seen the penalty incident again, but my initial reaction was that it was rightly given. There was a slight delay in the referee making his decision and you never know which way it will go in those situations.”

Oxford’s Des Buckingham:

“I have seen the penalty again and our player definitely got a touch to the ball to make it change direction. It was a coming together, but not a penalty.

“I thought in the first half we were the better team and in the second half they were. We had a great chance to go 2-0 up before they scored, but failed to take it.

“Mark Harris has had a wonderful start to the season and the work he does for the team is tremendous. He doesn’t find himself far enough back to concede penalties often, but I had brought on another striker in Dane Scarlett and wanted to keep Mark on the field as another goalscorer.

“With the game at 1-1, I thought we might be able to pin them back a bit and create a chance for the winner.

“For their first goal, we allowed them to play out too easily on their right, but as much as you plan and prepare you are not going to get everything right.”