Anis Mehmeti netted two first-half goals to set Bristol City on course for a convincing 3-0 Championship win over Portsmouth at Ashton Gate.

The hosts took a 15th-minute lead when Max Bird’s through-ball split the middle of Pompey’s defence and Mehmeti was allowed a clear run before shooting calmly past Nicolas Schmid with his right foot.

It was 2-0 on 32 minutes as Mehmeti got on the end of a low Nahki Wells cross from the left and side-footed just inside the far post. Three minutes later Rob Dickie fired home from close range after a shot from fellow central defender Luke McNally was saved.

The result was the exact reverse of the outcome when the sides met at Fratton Park earlier in the season and Portsmouth could have no complaints as the Robins missed several other good chances.

City made two changes from the 1-0 home win over Luton with Wells and Mehmeti replacing Fally Mayulu and Yu Hirakawa, while Pompey boss John Mousinho brought Terry Devlin, Owen Moxon, Sammy Silvera and Paddy Lane into his starting line-up.

Portsmouth included two former City players in Marlon Pack and Ryley Towler and Bird’s pass bisected them for Mehmeti’s opening goal, which led to a period of dominance for the home side.

Pompey striker Colby Bishop had brought a low save from Max O’Leary but Wells, twice, and Mehmeti went close to increasing City’s lead. Wells should have made it 2-0 on 29 minutes when clean through the middle, taking his shot early and putting it wide.

It mattered little as Portsmouth looked vulnerable to every attack. Soon Mehmeti had grabbed his second and Dickie’s strike provided another shock for the massed ranks of travelling fans behind the goal.

The second half began with Bishop having a header comfortably saved by O’Leary. But soon normal service was resumed at the other end as Scott Twine’s shot was deflected for a corner.

After substitutions by both teams, City replacement Sam Bell, on for Wells, saw a low shot saved at full stretch by Schmid. Then Mehmeti squandered a great chance for a hat-trick when volleying over from a Jason Knight cross.

Mehmeti fluffed his lines again from a Bell pass on 78 minutes with City still creating all the clear opportunities.

Pack volleyed wide from a rare Pompey raid in the closing stages but City went close again when substitute Hirakawa headed over and the same player had a shot deflected for a corner.

Visiting fans stayed behind their team until the final whistle but saw their club slip into the Championship drop zone, while impressive City consolidated a position in the top half.