Michael Turner's second goal of the season was enough to earn the Tigers their third straight win as they beat West Ham United 1-0 at the KC Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Turner headed home Andy Dawson's corner kick in the 51st minute to lift City back into third place in the Barclays Premier League table.

It meant the Tigers split the so-called Big Four with only Chelsea and Liverpool above them and Arsenal and Manchester United immediately below.

Phil Brown once again named an unchanged side with Marlon King given the all-clear to start despite his recent back problem.

Despite returning to training last week, there was no place in the squad for Anthony Gardner or Nick Barmby as Brown retained the same line up of substitutes as well.

New West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola handed a first start of the season to Craig Bellamy but recent signing Diego Tristan wasn't involved.

Ex-Tigers loanee Mark Noble lined-up in the visitors midfield.

There was a cracking atmosphere at the start of the game and Geovanni's first touch of the ball brought shouts of 'shoot' from the home fans, despite the fact the Brazilian was stood on the halfway line.

City won a corner in the sixth minute when Daniel Cousin's deep cross was headed behind by Herita Ilunga.

Andy Dawson delivered into a good area but Valon Behrami was able to clear.

Two minutes later, City were awarded a free kick on the angle of the box after Cousin had been shoved in the back but Dean Marney's ball in was claimed by Robert Green.

Cousin seemed to be at the centre of all of City's early attacking moves, heading Paul McShane's cross into the hands of Green in the 12th minute.

West Ham's first chance came on 15 minutes when Bellamy's pace turned defence into attack.

His 70-yard down the left ended with a perfect cross for Cole 12 yards out, but he fired straight at Boaz Myhill when a shot either side of the keeper would surely have resulted in a goal.

Ilunga was booked moments later after deliberately preventing Myhill from launching an attack.

The defender kicked the ball away from the keeper just as released it from his hands having claimed a Hammers corner.

City then looked to attack with King crossing to the far post for Marney, but he volleyed a difficult chance wide.

Ilunga should have given his side the lead on 26 minutes when he connected with a corner, but he somehow managed to head wide from a central position.

West Ham were playing some decent football with McShane in particular being given a hard time by the pace of Bellamy.

Just before the break, Cole nodded the ball into Bellamy's path, but he blasted high over the bar.

Half Time: Tigers 0-0 West Ham

George Boateng had the first shot of the second half, although his weak effort was easily stopped by Robert Green.

King then tried his luck when Marney's cross was only cleared as far as the City forward, but his strike went wide.

It was a bright start to the second half and when City won a corner on 51 minutes they took the lead.

Dawson's ball in was perfect for Turner and his header gave Green no chance as he bagged his second goal of the season.

The game was now at its most lively and a fast-flowing attack from City could have led to a second goal but after controlling King's superb ball, Geovanni could only fire wide.

Just seconds later, the visitors fired a warning when Cole turned his man and fired a shot back off the crossbar from close range.

Kamil Zayatte, who had been impressive throughout, went on a rampaging run on 56 minutes before firing a fierce shot just over the bar from 25 yards.

The Guinea international was booked, though, in the 62nd minute for a foul on Bellamy.

A neat spell of passing earned City a corner on 64 minutes, but this time Dawson's delivery led to a West Ham free kick when Ian Ashbee fouled his marker.

City made a change on 72 minutes as Bryan Hughes replaced Boateng.

That was just before West Ham took a free kick on the edge of the box which had been awarded following Dawson's foul on Behrami, an offence the left back was booked for.

Thankfully, the City wall did its job and blocked the shot.

Both sides then made a change.

For City, Peter Halmosi came on for Geovanni while West Ham replaced Julien Faubert with David Di Michele.

City were awarded a free kick of their own on 77 minutes when Cousin was fouled on the left edge of the box. Marney delivered but Cole headed away.

City's final change came with eight minutes remaining as Richard Garcia came on for the hard working Cousin while West Ham replaced Etherington with Freddie Sears.

West Ham were throwing men forward in search of an equaliser but City were just about standing firm.

Three minutes of time were added by the referee, meaning another anxious finish to a game for the home fans but the Tigers negotiated it without a problem to maintain their fantastic start to the season.

Tigers (4-3-1-2) Boaz Myhill; Paul McShane, Michael Turner, Kamil Zayatte, Andy Dawson; Dean Marney, Ian Ashbee [captain], George Boateng (Hughes 72); Geovanni (Halmosi 73); Marlon King, Daniel Cousin (Garcia 82).

Subs: Matt Duke, Sam Ricketts, Bernard Mendy, Bryan Hughes, Peter Halmosi, Richard Garcia, Caleb Folan.

Bookings: Zayatte 62, Dawson 71.

West Ham United (4-3-3) Robert Green; Julien Faubert (Di Michele 73), Lucas Neill [captain], Matthew Upson, Herita Ilunga; Valon Behrami, Scott Parker, Mark Noble; Craig Bellamy, Carlton Cole, Matthew Etherington (Sears 82).

Subs: Jan Lastuvka, Walter Lopez, Luis Boa Morte, Hayden Mullins, Calum Davenport, David Di Michele, Freddie Sears.

Booking: Ilunga 18

Attendance: 24,896 (a new record Hull City crowd at the KC Stadium)

Of all the newly promoted teams to the Premier League, only Nottinham Forest have made a better start than the Tigers.

Compared to City's tally of 17 points, Forest took 20 points from their opening eight games in 1994.