"Well done, Chrissy" were the cries from Curtis Fleming as Chris Martin leapt highest to win his umpteenth header from Dan Bentley's long ball, right into the path of Andi Weimann.
The Austrian knew where and when to make his run forward built on an understanding forged from last season's prolific campaign with both forwards scoring 34 league goals between them, also aided by Antoine Semenyo's devastating brilliance.
That WSM combo will undoubtedly reunite when Semenyo returns from his shin injury picked up on international duty which is likely to keep him out of action until at least September. However, there's a new name, with an apt first letter of his surname, looking to crash the party in the meantime with Mark Sykes showing glimpses as to why he became Nigel Pearson's first signing of the window.
With Sykes playing behind Martin and Weimann in the 3-1 victory over Forest Green Rovers yesterday, all three got themselves on the scoresheet - all three managing to assist one another.
Weimann and Sykes' movement in and around the box troubled the defenders, leaving them undecided whether to hold their positions, step forward from the back line or follow the runners. Their boundless energy across the pitch, despite the scorching temperatures, was another major positive in City's fluid attack.
If there had been one minor criticism so far of City's pre-season before yesterday, it was a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal. A 2-0 win over Cheltenham was followed up by a 0-0 draw with Portsmouth over 120 minutes and a narrow 1-0 victory over Plymouth where City struggled to generate little goalmouth action.
While pre-season is a time to work on tactics, find suitable partnerships and allow the new signings to gel, it was the first time the trio started a game together. Based on their performance it could be the first of many.
For Martin, playing alongside two livewires allows him to do what he does best by picking the ball up with back to goal, swivelling and playing passes in behind the defence for the other forwards to do the running. He believes that partnership will only get better as they continue to understand and learn each other's game.
"Andi and Syksey are very intelligent players so playing alongside them is fairly straightforward. It's about an understanding of their movement and where the ball is on the pitch and I think we had that nailed on," Martin told Bristol Live.
"If somebody went short, the others went long and vice-versa. You're always moving off your partner so you have to adjust and be fluid with it and I thought we did that very well both with and without the ball.
"We dealt with their threat without it and I thought we looked dangerous going forward. The one thing I would be disappointed in is the fact that we didn't score more.
"Sykes has settled really well and he's got the right character to fit in with the group, I think the manager has done that with the signings he has brought in so far.
"He's an intelligent footballer, he moves the ball well and he's a good runner. He's very, very fit can go in-behind, can come to feet and I think it showed today with the pace to go in behind to get his goal and linking the play well no matter where he picked up the ball and I think he will be a great addition to us."
Pearson has options at his disposal in attack to take on Hull. Nahki Wells, who scored against Plymouth, could partner Martin with Weimann playing behind while Alex Scott could also come into the frame in the No10 role. Youngster Tommy Conway continues to make a statement of intent by scoring twice in the second game of the afternoon against Exeter - both assisted by Wells - while Sam Bell is also in contention.
Last season was Martin's best goalscoring campaign since hitting 15 for Derby County in the 2015/16 campaign, having started 43 matches and sitting out just one. He remained coy about his personal targets, admitting he prefers to keep them private, but it's clear Martin will have another big role to play this season.
After opening his account with City's first, volleying in Sykes' header, he added: "I felt really good, the legs feel strong and I could keep up the intensity. It was a bit more manageable because we had a bit more possession so we didn't have to do as much defending and the legs felt strong after the 90 minutes on Saturday (vs Plymouth) and ready to go for the season.
"It's always pleasing as a striker to get the goals and be contributing to the team in the right sort of way. It's not just about that, I'm sure the manager will say the same thing about the strikers.
"There's a lot of other things that go into being a striker and being picked for this team but if you're contributing and getting yourself in the right place at the right time that's exactly what we're paid for as strikers and the same for the other lads that played in the forward positions with Andi and Sykesy getting goals as well. It's good for the confidence and long may it continue."
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
READ NEXT
