Chris Powell’s return to Leicester could not have been scripted better, as he beat the man who gave him the opportunity to take his first fledgeling steps in management.

Nigel Pearson was too good a mentor for his own good!

Dervite and Wagstaff came in for Wilson and Fuller, as Powell looked for solidity in midfield to combat Leicester’s quick passing game. De Laet and Marshall on the right and Konchesky and Knockaert on the left gave Charlton plenty to think about all night.

Yann Kermorgant, the bete noire of the Leicester fans, came back to haunt them, just as he did at The Valley in August.

Charlton took the lead after 19 minutes when Scott Wagstaff chased a lost cause to put Danny Drinkwater under pressure. Drinkwater’s pass along the byline was woefully underhit, allowing Bradley Pritchard to nip in and pull the ball back for Kermorgant to steer wide of Schmeichel’s left hand and into the corner of the net.

Pearson would have been far from pleased about the way the goal was conceded and the Foxes manager sent his team out early for the second half.

Leicester were brighter and more purposeful after the break but the Addicks still posed a threat going forward. Schmeichel was called upon to make a smart stop from the other former Leicester player in the Charlton line-up, Michael Morrison.

Midway through the second period, the hosts found the goal they had been searching for. Paul Gallagher drifted in from the right and the ball made its way to prolific marksman, Chris Wood. Wood despatched his shot beyond Ben Hamer’s right hand to restore parity.

Leicester looked to be in the ascendency now but an inspired substitution by Powell turned the game back in his team’s favour. Dorian Dervite was replaced Danny Haynes as the manager made a bold attempt to win the game, rather than settling for a point.

Just a minute after coming on, Haynes fired home the spectacular winner that gave the visitors the thre points. Latching on to a Kermorgant flick, Haynes let fly with a left footed shot from outside the area.

Haynes’ joy was unbridled as he celebrated in front of the travelling faithful. The Addicks still had work to do but their resolute defending saw them through.

Charlton: Hamer; Solly, Cort, Morrison, Wiggins; Pritchard, Stephens (Wilson 90), Dervite (Haynes 77), Jackson, Wagstaff (Taylor 90); Kermorgant.

Subs (not used): Button, Evina, Kerkar, Fuller.

Goals: Kermorgant 19, Haynes 78.

Booked: Jackson 30 (foul).

Leicester: Schmeichel; De Laet, Morgan, Keane, Konchesky; Marshall (Gallagher 64), Drinkwater, James (King 79), Knockaert (Dyer 64); Nugent, Wood.

Subs (not used): Logan, St Ledger, Vardy, Waghorn.

Goal: Wood 69.

Referee: Michael Naylor (South Yorkshire).

Attn: 19,920 (680 Charlton).