With interim boss Alan Mahon in charge for the first time since Nick Cushing's departure, the Blues triumphed thanks to Gemma Bonner's predatory early strike, though the Robins competed bravely throughout.
The Blues maintained their lead at the top of the table courtesy of this sixth straight win, while gutsy Bristol City slipped to a ninth defeat of the campaign.
KEY MOMENTS
Mahon's temporary reign got off to a dream start as the hosts struck their winner in only the second minute.
Caroline Weir floated in a super cross which Bonner met, volleying home clinically from eight yards.
Some may have feared for Bristol at that early stage, but there was no swift follow-up.
In fact the visitors created the next chance, with defender Gemma Evans heading straight at 'keeper Ellie Roebuck as she rose to meet Yana Daniels' free-kick.
England star Ellen White was sent through by a smart reverse through-ball from Tessa Wullaert, only to be thwarted by a superb last-ditch tackle from Evans.
Bristol were doing a determined job of stifling the hosts' undoubted threat, and though White tested goal keeper Sophie Baggaley a couple of times, it remained 1-0 until the interval.
Mahon's team significantly upped the tempo at the start of the second period, with Georgia Stanway and Jill Scott both being denied by smart Baggaley saves.
However, as the half progressed, White and Scott were among the City players to be frustrated by some resolute Bristol defending.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
This one has to go to the goal scorer Bonner, as she acrobatically got on the end of Weir's ball into the box to give City the lead early on.
That strike was her second in four Barclays FA WSL matches, after netting in a 3-1 victory over Everton in early January.
WHAT THEY SAID
Manchester City match-winner Gemma Bonner said: "It's very important that, although we didn't necessarily play that well, we still came away with the three points.
"The result was the most important thing for us going into the game.
"Yes, there are things we need to improve on, but we got the three points in the end.
"We've been working hard on setpieces like the one I scored from, and to be honest, if you ask Caroline to put a ball in where you want it, she will do more often than not.
"We are a bit disappointed that we're not scoring more goals from setpieces, but it is up to us to go in and attack them when balls come into the box like that.
"It was important we kept focused while it remained 1-0.
"We learned lessons from last year, especially when you're up against quick players like Bristol have, they can always be dangerous on the counter-attack."
Bristol City skipper Frankie Brown said: "I'm really proud of the way we performed as a team.
"It was disappointing to lose an early goal like that, and we could have let our heads go down at that point, but we didn't do that. We rose to the challenge collectively and ended up playing some really good football.
"That's the best we've been, in possession, this season, so it is disappointing that we didn't managed to nick something at the end of the game.
"It's never easy when you concede as early as we did, but the last time we played City at home we lost three goals in the last 10 minutes.
"They are such a quality opposition. They're always going to create chances, and we knew that going into the game.
"We need to be good at our emergency defending if you like, so I'm proud of the team for not letting their heads drop and not conceding immediately after that early goal."
Manchester City: (3-4-3): Ellie Roebuck; Steph Houghton, Gemma Bonner, Demi Stokes; Georgia Stanway, Kiera Walsh, Caroline Weir, Lauren Hemp; Jill Scott, Ellen White, Tessa Wullaert.
Substitutes: Pauline Bremer for White 82
Substitutes not used: Karima Benameur, Laura Coombs, Tyler Toland, Jess Park, Matilde Fidalgo.
Goals: Bonner 2
Bookings: Wullaert 80
Bristol City: (4-1-4-1): Sophie Baggaley; Faye Bryson, Gemma Evans, Jasmine Matthews, Poppy Pattinson; Frankie Brown; Yana Daniels, Ga-eul Jeon, Olivia Chance, Charlie Wellings; Katie Robinson.
Substitutes: Ebony Salmon for Robinson 46, Megan Wynne for Jeon 75
Substitutes not used: Eartha Cumings, Flo Allen, Maisy Collis.
Referee: Lucy Oliver
Attendance: 858
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