Peter Beardsley was Manchester City's loan star as the Blues took a giant leap to First Division safety.

The veteran forward, borrowed from Bolton, set up all three of City's goals as Joe Royle's men chalked up their second win in four days.

But while the future seems to be getting brighter for the Blues, the dark clouds are once again gathering over the McAlpine Stadium.

Tonight's defeat was Huddersfield's third in a row and Peter Jackson now has the difficult task of lifting his side out of the relegation zone with games running out fast.

City started full of confidence after Saturday's defeat at West Brom and they took the lead on nine minutes.

Beardsley's corner was headed goalwards by Kakhaber Tskhadadze and the unmarked Gerard Weikens nodded home from close range.

But the visitors were not having it all their own way and Tommy Wright was forced to make two fine saves to deny Wayne Allison and Grant Johnson.

Steve Harper then denied Beardsley before Huddersfield drew level in the 37th minute.

Steve Jenkins' shot was charged down and as Allison tried to reach the loose ball, he was held back by Kit Symons and referee George Cain pointed to the spot.

Paul Dalton drilled the penalty past Wright to claim his 13th goal of the season and Town were back in the game.

But City hit back in devastating fashion and went ahead again in first-half injury-time.

Harper failed to gather Beardsley's low cross under pressure from Uwe Rosler and Lee Briscoe, on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, swept the ball into the empty net from eight yards.

Huddersfield started the second period on top and Wright made a fine save to deny Paul Barnes, before Jeff Whitley cleared Darren Edmondson's header off the line with the goalkeeper stranded.

To rub salt into Town's wounds, the wing-back then had to be substituted after injuring himself, before City made the game safe.

Beardsley's 65th minute corner found Tskhadadze unmarked and the Georgian powered his header in off the post.

The visitors were then content to sit on their two-goal lead and Huddersfield's powder-puff attack were unable to find a way past Wright as City's survival hopes received a major shot in the arm.

Teams:

Huddersfield: Harper, Edmondson (Browning 53), Edwards (Smith 78), Richardson, Watts, Jenkins, Dalton (Stewart 78), Phillips, Barnes, Allison, Johnson.

Booked: Edmondson, Jenkins, Johnson.

Goals: Dalton 38 pen.

Man City: Wright, Jeff Whitley, Briscoe, Shelia, Symons, Tskhadadze, Weikens, Brown (Jim Whitley 80), Bradbury (Russell 74), Beardsley, Rosler.

Subs Not Used: Dickov.

Booked: Shelia.

Goals: Weikens 10, Briscoe 45, Tskhadadze 65.

Att: 15,694

Ref: G Cain (Bootle).