Steven Schumacher had no issue with Plymouth fans chanting “This is embarrassing” towards the end of a one-sided first half at Ashton Gate

Sam Bell fired City in front following a short corner after three minutes and five minutes later Matty James doubled the advantage with a close-range finish.

Adam Randall gave Argyle hope with a low 27th-minute strike from just outside the box, but Mark Sykes restored City’s two-goal advantage before the break from a Jason Knight pass.

Substitute Harry Cornick completed the scoring 10 minutes from time, shooting home from a Kal Naismith through ball, and Plymouth could have no complaints.

Manager Schumacher, who had made seven changes for the game, said: “Our fans were right to chant about it being embarrassing in the first half. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“Four of the players who came in are regular starters and with the three youngsters making their Championship debuts, it was a case of if you don’t give them a chance, how do you know how they will do?

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing and on the back of a 4-1 hiding they don’t look great decisions. I knew I would take some flak if things went wrong.

“But it wasn’t only the youngsters who had a tough night. The whole team were off it from the start.

“What we learn from the game is that we have to be better. That was by far our worst performance of the season so far.

“We ask the lads before each game for a fast start and not to take any risks. Yet from the first minute today we were second to headers and then failed to defend a corner.

“It gives you a mountain to climb if you give away silly early goals.”

City assistant manager Curtis Fleming said: “We were as good or better in the first half against West Brom on Saturday, but not as clinical.

“It makes such a difference when chances are converted. That has been missing from our play in home games, but we have never lost faith in our processes.

“We got a bit sloppy at times and there is still room for improvement, but overall we are delighted.

“Not least we are buzzing about the impact of our substitutes in seeing out the game.”

Manager Nigel Pearson again watched the match on crutches because of a back problem.

Fleming said: “He is going to see a specialist, but he was okay to jump up and have a go at one or two of the lads when he wasn’t happy with them, so he can’t be too bad!

“He will be fine for what will be an emotional return to Leicester City with us on Saturday.”

Bristol City coasted to their first home Sky Bet Championship victory of the season after a comfortable 4-1 demolition of west-country rivals Plymouth at Ashton Gate.

Sam Bell set them on their way to victory with a third minute opener before Matty James doubled the advantage with eight minutes on the clock.

Adam Randall pulled one back for Argyle after 26 minutes but the Robins wrapped up victory with further strikes from Mark Sykes and Harry Cornick.

The home side went in front when Kal Naismith played a short corner to Joe Williams and his near-post cross was fired home by young striker Bell with a first-time finish.

It was 2-0 on six minutes later when Sykes broke away and cut the ball back for James to shoot into the roof of the net from six yards.

The Robins completely dominated the opening exchanges and they could have gone 3-0 up after 10 minutes when Bell’s shot from a central position was saved by Hazard with an outstretched leg.

Argyle could not handle City’s front three of Bell, Nahki Wells and Sykes, to the dismay of their packed ranks of travelling fans behind the goal.

Sykes headed wide from another good chance and Cameron Pring was high and wide when getting on the end of Naismith’s far -post corner.

Argyle replied after 26 minutes, Randall finding the bottom corner with a low drive from just outside the box.

But seven minutes later Jason Knight’s superb crossfield ball allowed Sykes to race clear and send a sweet right-footed shot past Conor Hazard.

The Pilgrims missed a great chance to reduce the deficit again when Ben Waine shot wide following a poor clearance by City goalkeeper Max O’Leary.

The visitors left the field at the break to jeers from their supporters, who had chanted “This is embarrassing” as the half time whistle approached.

Argyle boss Steven Schumacher responded by sending on Jordan Houghton and Morgan Whittaker for Lewis Warrington and Tyreik Wright at the start of the second half.

The game became more of a contest, but City continued to create the clearer openings and Bell shot just wide on 52 minutes. Both managers made liberal use of their substitutes’ benches as the half progressed.

Substitute Cornick completed a resounding victory, shooting home from Naismith’s through ball 10 minutes from time.

Bristol City began life without Alex Scott in fine fashion as skipper Matty James smashed home in stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 victory at Millwall.

James – playing without midfield partner Scott, who was sold to Bournemouth this week for a fee that could rise to £25million – found the bottom-left corner from a long throw-in from the right to earn Nigel Pearson’s side their first victory of the Sky Bet Championship season.

The visitors, who drew against Preston last weekend, were good value for the victory and their travelling contingent celebrated behind the goal long after the final whistle.

Gary Rowett’s Millwall side were too sloppy in possession and lacked creativity.

Duncan Watmore huffed and puffed, but his energy alone was not enough. A blocked, low strike from the forward after a neat dummy from Zian Flemming was as good as it got.

This was Millwall’s first home league match of the season and so all in attendance paid their respects to late former chairman John Berylson, who died in July aged 70.

A 114-page tribute book told stories by people from across the globe of the American who took over the Lions in 2007.

The home side proudly wore T-shirts with Berylson’s face printed on the front during their warm-up and American flags were unfurled in the Dockers Stand, with wreaths laid behind each goal by the captains.

The first shot on target came from Millwall, who were unchanged from their 1-0 away victory against Middlesbrough on the opening weekend. Left-back Murray Wallace got on the end of Flemming’s cross but his header from 10 yards was straight at goalkeeper Max O’Leary.

A lovely dummy from Flemming – who boss Rowett is confident of keeping after Burnley dropped their interest in the Dutchman – opened up a chance for Watmore but his low strike from a central area was blocked.

Midfielder Joe Williams was then booked for a tackle on the counter-attacking Watmore that would have been more suited to Twickenham than the Den.

For the final 15 minutes of the first half it was all City. A trio of corners were followed by a couple of free-kicks that enabled Williams and then James to pump the ball into the hosts’ box but to no avail.

Mark Sykes, making his first start of the season, had some joy on the right wing.

The opening exchanges of the second half were sloppy, particularly from the home side, with the groans from the stands strengthened as passes went astray.

City substitute Anis Mehmeti’s strike from the left went wide but then, with a minute of stoppage time to go, James’ effort found the bottom corner to send Bristol City home with three points.