Taylor Gardner-Hickman opened his Bristol City account with a spectacular strike as they held off Middlesbrough's fightback to win at Ashton Gate.
Gardner-Hickman curled a precise finish into the top corner before Tommy Conway's penalty kick put the Robins 2-0 up.
Boro levelled through Matt Crooks just minutes after his effort hit the bar and rebounded in off City's Zak Vyner.
But Mark Sykes tucked home his side's third to ensure a win for Liam Manning in his first home game as City boss.
On-loan West Bromwich Albion midfielder Gardner-Hickman, who was one of two changes Manning made to his starting line-up, looked lively from the start and went close with a shot that deflected off Dael Fry and was kept out by Boro goalkeeper Seny Dieng.