Hull City 2-0 Crystal Palace

Mohamed Diame scored his third goal since joining from West Ham on transfer deadline day

• Hull win for the first time since beating QPR on opening day

• Neil Warnock's four-game unbeaten run as Palace boss ended

• Mohamed Diame scores third goal in four Palace games

• Nikica Jelavic is on target for the fourth time this season

Hull picked up three points for the first time since the opening day of the season with a hard-fought win over Crystal Palace.

Tigers' midfielder Mohamed Diame powered a header past Julian Speroni on the hour-mark to break the deadlock.

Nikica Jelavic's fourth goal of the season late on secured a much-needed 2-0 victory for Steve Bruce's side.

Defender Damien Delaney came closest for Palace but his header was cleared off the line by Liam Rosenior.

It was just about deserved for the home side, who came to life at the end of a lacklustre first half and were the better side after the interval.

Palace are something of a bogey team for Hull - the Tigers had beaten them only once in their previous 15 meetings.

And for the opening 40 minutes it looked like that run would continue as Hull struggled to break down a well-organised Eagles side unbeaten in four league games since Neil Warnock took over at the end of August.

Despite Palace defender Scott Dann having to be carried off on a stretcher with suspected medial ligament damage after 11 minutes, the visitors played the better football early on and looked dangerous on the break.

The one thing they failed to do, though, was trouble Steve Harper, the 39-year-old making his first league start of the season because of an injury to Hull number one Allan McGregor.

The home side, reverting to their tried and trusted 3-5-2 formation, sparked into life on 38 minutes when Abel Hernandez exchanged passes with Diame inside the box and slid a shot inches wide.

The striker, signed on transfer deadline day for a club record £10m from Palermo, had scored in his previous two home games but could not repeat the trick, missing another decent opening on the stroke of half time.

Hull City's Nikica Jelavic has also scored against Newcastle, Aston Villa and Stoke this season

But it set the tone for the second half with Hull's tails up and sensing a breakthrough.

That duly came on the hour when impressive Scottish international wing-back Andrew Robertson, one of several Hull summer signings, whipped in a left-wing cross and Diame gave Speroni no chance from 10 yards with a bullet header.

It was Diame's third goal in four games since joining from West Ham.

Harper was called into action when he acrobatically tipped over Yannick Bolasie's blistering long range drive.

Nevertheless, Hull were in control and made sure of victory when Jelavic struck, firing a low shot past Speroni from Tom Huddlestone's pass.

Palace almost grabbed a consolation in stoppage time but Delaney's header from a corner was cleared off the line.

It was Hull's first win on home soil since April and Palace's first league away defeat since a 2-1 reverse at Arsenal on the opening day when Keith Millen was caretaker boss.

Hull City manager Steve Bruce: "It was an important result for us because it has been so unlike us in recent weeks to let leads slip and concede goals.

"We've had success by being resolute and difficult to beat. So the clean sheet pleased me because we have worked hard and gone back to a tried and tested 3-5-2 system. It is nice to get back to winning ways."

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock: "In the 40th minute there was a blatant elbow from Michael Dawson on Fraizer Campbell. I have seen red cards given for less than that and the referee doesn't even see it.

"It is OK the ref seeing pulling shirts but the elbows are the ones you've got to spot, and he is one of our top referees. I can't understand it."

Rival managers Neil Warnock and Steve Bruce share a joke before kick off

Palace's Jason Puncheon had a good tussle with Hull's Scottish international wing back Andrew Robertson

Hull City owner Assem Allam was cheerful before kick off, despite saying he won't put any more money in the club unless he gets his way over a name change to Hull Tigers

Hull goalscorer Mohamed Diame muscles Palace left back Joel Ward off the ball

Palace striker Fraizer Campbell, who scored 15 goals on loan at Hull in the 2007-08, battles with Tigers skipper Curtis Davies