Bartlett stunner seals Charlton win

Bartlett celebrates his quality strike

Charlton 2-0 Leicester

South African international Shaun Bartlett put the seal on a deserved Charlton victory with a goal of real quality at The Valley.

Bartlett crashed home an unstoppable volley from an inch-perfect Graham Stuart pass with nine minutes left of a one-side match.

Earlier, the impressive striker had played a part in Andy Todd's 33rd-minute opener as his header crashed against the crossbar before Todd tidied up for his first Charlton goal.

  Key moments

11 mins: Jensen sees a shot dip onto the bar

33 mins: Todd pokes home from close range after Bartlett's header rattles the bar

49 mins: Bartlett's flick is volleyed goalwards by Johansson but Royce makes a fine save

81 mins: Bartlett brilliantly clinches victory as he volleys home Stuart's long pass

Leicester were angry that the corner from which Todd scored was allowed to be taken, with central defender Gerry Taggart off the pitch receiving treatment.

But Taylor's side could have few complaints at this result.

They stacked bodies behind the ball and only managed one shot at goal in a first half totally dominated by the home side.

Little wonder Leicester have now lost their last eight Premiership matches on the road.

Charlton, by contrast, were fluent and inventive.

Claus Jensen served early notice of their intent when he dipped a long-range effort on to the top of the crossbar.

New England recruit Chris Powell, clearly still revelling in his new-found international status, also went close with an effort from the edge of the area after a neat turn took him away from Andy Impey.

Todd is congratulated on his opener

So it was no more than the home side deserved when they went ahead. Bartlett should have scored, but Todd made sure.

Todd has hardly been the most prolific goalscorer throughout his career.

His goal had the hallmark of a seasoned poacher, yet it was only the fourth of the defender's career.

Bartlett was busier than most and nearly claimed another assist in the opening minutes of the second half.

His brilliant flick sent Jonatan Johansson clear and the Finnish international's volley looked destined for the back of the net before Simon Royce thrust out an arm to produce a magnificent save.

Royce heroics

Royce, who played eight games for Charlton two seasons ago, retained his place in the Leicester goal despite Tim Flowers' return to fitness and he fully justified his appointment as he kept Leicester in the game.

Lifted by his heroics - and by the arrival of substitute Arnur Gunlaugsson - Leicester at last began to pose some kind of threat.

Gunlaugsson provided a hint of the spark Leicester fans had been craving and the visitors began to suggest they could squeeze a point out of the game.

Matt Elliott gets to grips with Chris Powell

Trevor Benjamin twice went close; first turning and shooting over the bar and then seeing a header drop wide when well placed at the far post.

With 11 minutes left, he produced a more telling header at the other end to deflect Graeme Stuart's piledriver over the bar.

That effort swayed the momentum back Charlton's way and they made sure of their victory within two minutes.

Stuart, on for Kishishev as a second-half substitute, complimented Bartlett's run with a sublime ball over the top from the half-way line.

Bartlett displayed his quality by first losing his marker to make space and then letting fly with a left-foot volley fit enough to win any match.

It was his sixth - and undoubtedly best _ goal for Charlton and all of them have been scored at The Valley.

The two-goal cushion also meant Charlton leapfrogged Leicester in eighth place.

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Charlton: Ilic, Fish, Todd, Rufus, Powell, Kishishev, Parker, Jensen, Stuart, Johansson, Bartlett. Subs: Kinsella, Robinson, Brown, Svensson, Caig.

Leicester: Royce, Rowett, Elliott, Taggart, Impey, Lewis, Marshall, Eadie, Davidson, Benjamin, Sturridge. Subs: Flowers, Gunnlaugsson, Oakes, Akinbiyi, Delaney.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)