Stiliyan Petrov shot across Potters goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen in the final minute of the opening half to put Villa ahead, and Martin O'Neill's men seemed destined for a comfortable win when John Carew volleyed a second with 11 minutes to go.

But Ryan Shawcross reduced the arrears in the 87th minute and substitute Whelan lashed a low volley into the bottom corner to marginally improve City's hopes of staying in the Barclays Premier League.

Villa missed a golden opportunity to stretch their lead over fifth-placed Arsenal, who were held at home by Fulham yesterday.

Manchester City's away-day blues continued at West Ham where they lost 1-0.

Robinho was again a peripheral figure as Jack Collison's cool finish after Shay Given's parry with 19 minutes left clinched the points.

Bolton increased their chances of survival while damaging those of opponents Newcastle with a tense 1-0 win at the Reebok Stadium.

Ricardo Gardner got the winner in the 46th minute with a superb strike just moments after coming off the bench as a half-time substitute.

Hull remain in freefall after they were defeated 2-1 at home by Sam Allardyce's improving Blackburn.

Stephen Warnock and Keith Andrews struck within two first-half minutes for Rovers before the Tigers' Dean Marney and Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen were dismissed.

Ian Ashbee scored with a crisp volley late on to give City hope but they are now deep in relegation trouble.