Keegan was still absent while he recuperated after a back problem – and his side looked on their way to defeat after surprise inclusion Juan Pablo Angel had given Villa the lead.

But City were always in the hunt in a game of poor quality and Distin’s late equaliser was well merited as they moved four points clear of the bottom three.

Then in injury-time Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen twice denied Robbie Fowler from close range.

Angel had put to one side a bout of jet lag to play after not arriving back from a World Cup qualifier with Columbia in Peru until Saturday.

He only lasted 45 minutes, although that was sufficient for him to tuck away his 21st goal of the campaign.

But Villa may rue their inability to kill off struggling opponents on home soil in their push for a European place.

They have now taken only two points from their last three matches at Villa Park – and this performance was not much better than in the 2-0 reversal by Blackburn a fortnight ago.

David O’Leary’s side struggled to create many openings, with Richard Dunne and Distin resolute performers in the City defence.

Villa’s best player was central defender Olof Mellberg, who made several vital last-ditch interceptions.

Chances were few and far between in the opening 45 minutes, although Steve McManaman should have done better after exchanging passes with Michael Tarnat.

He found himself with the time and space to line up a shot, but pulled his low 20-yard effort well wide.

Villa were indebted to a superb sliding tackle from Mellberg to deny Shaun Wright-Phillips as he was about to shoot after he had cut inside Lee Hendrie.

The home team looked lethargic and when Darius Vassell, who had recovered from the ankle injury suffered on England duty, did find himself in a promising position, he failed to make a proper contact on his intended cross for Angel.

Vassell threatened after cutting inside, only to completely scuff his left-footed effort which tricked harmlessly out of play.

But then after 26 minutes, Angel put Villa ahead with the first worthwhile effort on target from either team.

Thomas Hitzlsperger’s corner flew across the City goal-mouth and no-one picked up Angel, who squeezed home a header at the far post.

City tried to retaliate and Mellberg produced another magnificent block to thwart Jon Macken at close range, but that was the sum total of the first half entertainment.

O’Leary made a half-time substitution, taking off Angel and replacing him with giant frontman Peter Crouch, whose last start had yielded two goals against Leicester in January.

The former Portsmouth player, farmed out on loan to Norwich earlier in the season, was soon in the thick of the action, and a powerful shot from just outside the area was charged down by Distin.

Then Sun Jihai then had to come across and clear into touch after had Crouch looked favourite to win a chase with City keeper David James to reach a through ball.

City started to come more into the game and it needed Jlloyd Samuel to put in a quickfire challenge to deny Wanchope after a cross from Tarnat had picked him out by the penalty spot.

Sun Jihai became the first player to be yellow carded after 66 minutes for handball – and from the resulting free-kick, Villa should have doubled their lead.

James failed to hold Hitzlsperger’s blistering free-kick and the rebound fell to Gavin McCann eight yards out, but he lofted his shot into the Holte End.

Fowler and Nicolas Anelka came on for Macken and Paulo Wanchope after 68 minutes, with young Villa striker Luke Moore replacing Vassell at the same juncture.

City enjoyed a bout of pressure in the closing stages and their equaliser was well deserved.

With just eight minutes left, Distin was in position at the far post to head Tarnat’s inswinging corner back across Sorensen into the corner of the net.