Substitute Scott Twine volleyed an 88th-minute winner as Bristol City edged out Millwall 4-3 in a Championship thriller at Ashton Gate.

The hosts took the lead inside three minutes when Sinclair Armstrong got behind the Millwall defence on the right and his cross found Anis Mehmeti who netted with a right-footed volley from eight yards.

It was 2-0 in the 12th minute, the powerful Armstrong rising unmarked to net with a downward header from Max Bird’s left-wing cross.

Millwall struck back after 51 minutes, Romain Esse tricking his way past a defender inside the box and burying a low right-footed shot past Max O’Leary.

Three minutes later the Lions were level as Tom Bradshaw sent O’Leary the wrong way from the penalty spot after George Tanner had blocked a Duncan Watmore header with a hand.

Watmore then put Millwall ahead in the 64th minute with a quality strike, superbly caressing a high right-footed volley beyond O’Leary’s dive from 12 yards.

But back came City, substitute Fally Mayulu exchanging passes with Bird before sending a low drive just inside the far post with 12 minutes remaining.

Twine’s winner came the day after he completed a permanent move from Burnley, having been on loan at Ashton Gate last season. The midfielder got on the end of a Joe Williams cross from the right to score from the edge of the six-yard box.

It was enough to settle a see-saw contest in which both teams attacked with gusto, but showed worrying signs of frailty at the back.

City head coach Liam Manning selected the starting line-up which took a point at Hull last Saturday, while Neil Harris also named an unchanged team from Millwall’s opening Championship fixture.

The home side made a fast start and were rewarded with the early two-goal lead, capitalising on the two clear chances they created.

Millwall grew into the game and almost pulled a goal back after 24 minutes when George Honeyman’s cross from the left found Ryan Leonard unmarked at the far post. His shot back across goal struck the inside of an upright and bounced kindly into the arms of O’Leary.

Manning’s men then reasserted their early dominance with Bird firing wide after a clever turn in midfield and Mehmeti doing the same at the end of a fast break involving Armstrong.

But it was a different story at the start of the second half as Millwall came out fighting and quickly wiped out the deficit before going in front.

City looked alarmingly vulnerable for a spell, but then summoned the spirit for a grandstand finish.

Millwall goalkeeper Lukas Jensen had to make a brilliant low save from Mayulu to prevent the rampant Robins notching a fifth in the closing stages.