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Leicester vs Charlton: Kermorgant returns to haunt Foxes

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Yann Kermorgant returned to the King Power Stadium to haunt Leicester as the Frenchman scored one and created another in Charlton's 2-1 npower Championship victory.

The 31-year-old, who also scored in the Addicks 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture back in August, was playing in Leicester for the first-time since his costly play-off semi-final penalty miss two years ago during an ill-fated spell with the Foxes.

Booed throughout, Kermorgant, almost inevitably, had the last laugh as Charlton performed a textbook smash-and-grab raid against a Leicester side who dominated from start to finish.

Both Kermorgant's first-half opener and Danny Haynes' winner came completely against the run of play, while the returning Chris Wood's leveller was not enough to earn his side anything from the game.

It continued Nigel Pearson's manager-of-the-month curse; since winning five out of five in January the Foxes boss has now overseen three straight defeats.

Leicester's first opening came in just the third minute as David Nugent advanced down the left wing and squared the ball for Anthony Knockaert, who rode a challenge on the edge of the area before delivering a fierce shot which Ben Hamer did well to parry behind.

The Foxes were enjoying the better of the opening exchanges and Paul Konchesky should have done better in the ninth minute when Ben Marshall put him clear down the left flank, but the former England full-back picked out a defender with his cut-back when three Leicester forwards were lurking.

The visitors went in front after 19 minutes when Pritchard got free down the left channel and pulled back for Kermorgant, who neatly converted from 12 yards to a chorus of boos from the fans of his former employers.

Marshall came close to restoring parity in the 37th minute when he collected a cross-field ball on halfway, surged forward and, as the Charlton defence parted, flashed a powerful drive which Hamer initially spilled before smothering.

Knockaert fluffed a golden opportunity to equalise six minutes before half-time.

Richie DeLaet went on a marauding run down the right flank, beat two Athletic defenders and picked out the Frenchman, who ballooned his effort over the bar with only Hamer to beat.

Charlton showed little attacking intent throughout the evening, but they might have had a second four minutes after the interval when Kermorgant brilliantly put Pritchard clean through, only for the striker's audacious attempted lob over Kasper Schmeichel to sail harmlessly into the crowd.

The Danish keeper then spilt Johnnie Jackson's 57th-minute free-kick at the feet of Michael Morrison, only to recover superbly and tip the defender's shot away.

Leicester thought they had equalised shortly before the hour-mark as Matty James played in Wood, who finished calmly only to see the flag raised for off-side.

Wood's anger intensified seven minutes later when Leon Cort appeared to deflect his 20-yard shot behind with his arm, but it was a case of third time lucky just two minutes later.

DeLaet went on another foray into opposition territory and the Belgian's centre deflected kindly for the 21-year-old to fire home an eighth goal in seven matches since arriving from West Brom.

There appeared to be only one winner at that stage, but Charlton substitute Haynes latched on to Kermorgant's flick and, with the Leicester defence standing off, unleashed a 20-yard left-foot effort which sailed into the top-left corner of Schmeichel's goal.

The visitors were indebted to Hamer for securing victory when he tipped Danny Drinkwater's fizzing 30 yard effort behind in the closing minutes, and Wood rifled a 20-yard free-kick narrowly wide deep into stoppage time.


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