With both sides enjoying unbeaten runs in the division at opposite ends of the table, the hosts capitalised on a poor opening 20-minute spell in which we looked particularly vulnerable to take a 2-0 lead at Landore Training Centre.
Goalkeeper Brandon Austin was kept busy on his return to the starting XI with shots raining in, but was powerless to prevent Courtney Baker-Richardson and Jordon Garrick from finding the back of the net with two of City's numerous early opportunities.
However, Sterling popped up with a timely penalty just moments after Swansea's second goal and, as we started to impose ourselves on the game in the run-up to half-time, cracked a fine strike past goalkeeper Gregor Zabret in added time at the end of the first period to level things up.