A victory over Bournemouth was the cherry on top (pun intended) of a pre-season that really couldn't have gone much better.
The Robins' undefeated pre-season campaign could have been derailed by Scott Parker's Premier League opponents who announced a strong starting XI as they looked to generate their own momentum in what is expected to be a long and difficult campaign in the top flight.
Unfortunately for them, City were up for the challenge, eager to maintain confidence and an impressive run of form heading into the Hull game next week. We know we shouldn't read too much into pre-season results and performances, but compared to the two games against Bournemouth last season, there's no doubt City are in a much stronger position.
Two defeats last campaign and the gulf in class was evident all over the pitch. For the first 20 minutes yesterday, one could be mistaken for believing it was City preparing for life in the Premier League considering how they started.
Nigel Pearson was sitting up in the stands as he has done all throughout pre-season to get more of an aerial viewing of his side moving the ball with vigour, keeping their shape and looking to create space for the wing-backs to bomb forward.
Bournemouth did show their quality, led by Dominic Solanke in attack but even he couldn't force a way through City's resolute defence with Naismith continuing to prove why he could be one of the signings of the summer across the Championship. When they did break through, Mark Sykes was on hand to hack the ball off the line when Ryan Christie's effort was heading for the bottom corner.
So now attentions turn to Hull and here are the City talking points after their 1-0 victory.
Alex Scott's role
"An 18-year-old midfielder has kept the Premier League side quiet" were the quotes from talkSPORT'S Ian 'Moose' Abraham who was quizzing the Bristol City media team on the wonderkid halfway through the first half.
Scott was back in the side from the start, playing behind the strikers in a No10 role, with manager Nigel Pearson preferring Sykes out in a right wing-back role in the absence of Kane Wilson. The former Forest Green man missing out with a minor knock.
For City fans and those who have watched Scott regularly over the last 12 months, seeing him dictate a midfield or dominate at right wing-back comes as no surprise even with the growing weight of expectancy on his shoulders. For those who are only seeing him in the flesh for the first time, he continues to be the topic of conversation around the stands.
With his success in England's Euros Under-19 win this summer, Scott has been afforded a couple of weeks in the summer to try and relax while his team-mates underwent a gruelling pre-season training camp in Austria. He only returned last Tuesday, playing the final 30 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Exeter when he came on at wing-back before moving into the middle.
His absence, Sykes playing minutes in the No10 role and Matty James and Joe Williams' growing understanding in the middle has left questions over where or how Pearson will fit him in, because let's be honest, when he's fit he has to start. Kane Wilson's arrival and George Tanner's return to fitness means Scott can deployed back into the middle.
Yesterday was a clear indiciation of where Pearson would like to deploy him going forward, and also the versatility he can provide in midfield. Starting behind forwards Chris Martin and Andi Weimann, Scott's position gave a glimpse into what he can offer in that No10 role.
He had City's two best chances of the first half, seeing his effort from Sykes' deep cross saved before dragging a left-footed effort wide of the left post. But it was his technical ability and intelligence that can also see him thrive in a more advanced role.
He knows how to drop into the spaces to collect the ball and can manoeuvre himself in tight areas to wriggle out of challenges to pick out a team-mate. He perhaps doesn't offer the same movement in relation to Sykes or Weimann with darting runs behind the defenders, preferring to drop deeper to collect the ball.
Bournemouth knew the danger he possesses and were keen to limit his time on the ball and for a brief spell in the first-half, he found it tricky to get involved in the play. Even so, he still looked the most likely to make something happen.
Pearson spoke about his position after the game, admitting Scott has the ability to play anywhere on the pitch - something we already know - but was coy about whether to suggest that No10 role will be his going forward, particularly when Antoine Semenyo comes back into the side.
We already know Pearson's a big fan of the Williams/James combo in the middle and there's no reason why the duo would be split up after their impressive partnerships through pre-season. A lot will become clearer when Semenyo comes back into the side but with the season getting underway next weekend, it seems Scott will take that No10 spot for the immediate future.
Zak Vyner over Timm Klose?
If you told any City fan at the end of last season that Zak Vyner could start the opening game of the next Championship, they probably would have laughed in your face and questioned your allegiance.
The fact that he is still with the club is a surprise in itself considering Pearson's comments throughout last season. Yes, they weren't directly aimed at the defender but it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to put 2+2 together, especially considering how he lost his place in the side and squad towards the end of the last campaign.
But here we are, one week away and Vyner could very well be in the starting XI to face Hull. It's perhaps been one of the biggest takes so far in pre-season, the amount of game time he has received on that right side of the defence.
In the game prior against Forest Green Rovers, Pearson opted for a stronger XI than the clash against Exeter immediately afterwards. His inclusion for that match with Timm Klose playing in the second game raised one or two eyebrows but nothing much to suggest he was ahead in the pecking order.
After all, Vyner was perhaps at fault for their goal when he lost his man at the back post. Yesterday was more telling in how Pearson sees his defence shaping up for the Championship curtain-raiser.
Vyner once again started over Klose with the Swiss veteran replacing him at half-time. We've been guilty of being critical towards Vyner on occasions so credit where credit is due, he played well in his 45-minute cameo against Premier League opposition.
He kept it tight at the back, looked comfortable with the ball at his feet and played it simple without trying to ping cross-field or defence-splitting passes. His understanding with Sykes on that side was sound with Vyner providing one or two overlaps to get a delivery across.
It wasn't a spectacular performance but it certainly wasn't bad. What is more worrying was his replacement struggled on his introduction with the pace of the game.
Klose immediately conceded two quick free-kicks against the pace of Jordan Zemura, coming on the right side of the defence. In other parts of the game, he seemed mildly off the pace not showing the same assuring performances that were so prominent throughout the second half of last season.
He did look more comfortable in the centre of the back three on 60 minutes when Ryley Towler's introduction shifted him out to the middle but it was a similar story at Exeter on Tuesday with Klose struggling to keep up with the pace of the game.
The one question mark surrounding Klose in that position on the right side of the defence is whether he has the mobility to cover the ground vacated by the likes of Wilson when he bombs forward in a wing-back role. Perhaps that is why Pearson is taking a closer look at Vyner in pre-season while Tomas Kalas remains out injured.
There's still no guarantee Vyner will be around at the end of the transfer window on September 1. Much will depend on whether Pearson can bring in another central defender.
For now, Vyner looks to be handed another opportunity in the City side and while it's highly unlikely to be for the long-term, he could be a short-term solution at the back in the opening handful of games in the new season.
The momentum
There's the old cliche that pre-season results mean nothing but try telling that to the players and the manager after City maintained their unbeaten record heading into the new season.
Four wins, two draws, nine goals scored and just three conceded is not too shabby at all. City have even had two penalties in pre-season including one given by referee Andy Davies yesterday - something's got to give.
For those who may have forgotten, Davies was the official that earned Pearson a fine after he branded him a "park referee" following the defeat against Queens Park Rangers last season.
The fact of the matter is, City are heading into the new season in form. Results not only generated from pre-season, but coming off the back of the end of last campaign where City only lost once in their final six matches coming away at Huddersfield on the final day of the season.
There's no doubt the optimism is growing around BS3, despite what the bookies might be saying (City are one of the favourites to be relegated). Yesterday, the Robins looked sharp on the ball, fit and organised - able to frustrate a strong Bournemouth side and limited them to just a handful of so-called good chances.
Scott Parker was far from happy at the full-time whistle and that is only a testament to City's showing as they gradually increased the intensity of their performances throughout the pre-season.
One may argue, and it's a valid point, that City's opponents in pre-season have all been sides in the lower divisions and therefore it's not exactly the best metric to determine what level the side are performing at. Plymouth and Exeter in particular certainly gave Pearson's side a tough outing.
Bournemouth were a different kettle of fish and they showed flashes of their quality, particularly in that first half, but City rose to the challenge especially in defence with Naismith continuing to marshall that backline. There's a confidence in the players, the atmosphere at the club is better than it was 12 months ago and those factors including the form can only bode well.
While City ground out a win against Bournemouth, next weekend's opponents Hull lost 3-0 away at recently-relegated Peterborough. They've also lost 4-0 to Leicester at home and 2-0 to Fenerbahce.
Again, and we'll reiterate that pre-season is a time to tinker and experiment with formations and personnel so Hull's defeat can't be taken totally without context but there would have certainly been an aura of confidence in City's dressing room at 5pm yesterday - and it's unlikely the same could be said about Hull.
Mark Sykes
It's a name we seem to be repeating for one reason or another after most of the pre-season matches but they've all been for good reason. After all, he is new and unless you're clued up on your League One knowledge, he was relatively unknown before City announced him.
The sense of intrigue around his arrival was only fuelled by the fact that he spent last season playing in a position that Pearson rarely utilises. He's naturally a right winger and with the manager's obvious preference to play wing-backs it begged the question as to where he would fit in.
While that question still remains to an extent, especially when everyone is fit, his position in the side is looking a lot clearer. He's played as the No10 on the majority of occasions and has notably improved game by game.
After his Cheltenham debut, he spoke honestly about needing time to adjust in that position as he learns what positions he needs to fill to collect the ball and influence play in the final third.
From then on, each of his showings looks more confident as he develops into Pearson's system. Similarly to his cameo against Plymouth, Sykes was deployed as the wing-back - a role unfamiliar to him in the grand scheme of things.
He could have been the weakness in the side especially against the strength of Bournemouth's attack but that certainly wasn't the case. For all his ability dribbling with the ball at his feet, Sykes has a tenacious side that allows him to be committed in the tackle.
In the opening few minutes, he made a brilliantly timed challenge out on the touchline that kick-started an attack in which he found space to put a dangerous cross across goal. He has the energy to be running that flank for a full 90 minutes with the defensive intelligence to know when to make the maraud forward or hold his position at the back.
His performance was summed up with an excellent goalline clearance in the first-half to deny a certain goal although there was one moment that comes with inexperience in playing in a new role.
A cross came in from the right and Sykes waited for the ball to come to him, allowing Zemura to step in front and pick up the ball in the box. Only his touch let him down and the opportunity was squandered. It was the wake-up call he needed without being punished to ensure he wouldn't make the same mistake a second time.
It's become a lot clearer why Pearson was eager to make the player his first arrival of the summer. He ticks all the boxes of showing grit and determination, not shy in the tackle, versatile and can add goals from midfield.
The manager was eager to highlight his performance after the game, saying: "Already Mark Sykes has shown what he can bring in different positions.
"It's nice to have different options. I don't feel the need to pigeonhole people and say where they definitely need to play but we've got more options now in terms of versatility within the squad." Considering what we've seen so far in pre-season, Sykes has made it very difficult for the manager to overlook him to face Hull.
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