CHARLTON manager Chris Powell was relieved to see his side secure their first win of the season as they beat 10-man Leicester City 2-1 at The Valley on Saturday.
The Addicks had endured a difficult start to their Championship season, but their fortunes changed when the undefeated Foxes visited SE7.
A tactical shift to a starting 3-5-2 formation saw Powell’s side perform impressively and the boss was delighted his team had finally collected their first three points of the campaign.
Powell said: “I’m pleased for my group of players because they’ve been down.
“It has been a tough old start for us, but I kept saying there’s no need to panic.
“We obviously had the abandoned game last week, so we’ve only played three games before today.
“It’s just pleasing we showed people we can play our stuff and also win.”
He added: “We’re here to win and we have to get results.
“We’ve had a lot of soul searching between us all and a lot of hard work on the training pitch, looking at things and how we can get better.
“We’ve changed the shape somewhat because I just wanted the players to feel comfortable and give us a bit of a solid base and we’ve managed to do that.
“I just felt it was the right way to go today and it certainly worked for us in the end.”
It was two ex-Leicester players who came back to haunt their former club, as Michael Morrison gave Charlton the lead after 27 minutes by heading home a Dale Stephens corner.
Foxes midfielder Matty James saw red for a second yellow card before the Addicks, ever a threat from set-pieces, doubled their lead just before the hour with Yann Kermorgant powerfully heading past Kasper Schmeichel.
Danny Drinkwater pulled a consolation goal back on 62 minutes to set up a nervy finish for the home side, but Kermorgant would prove to be the hero as Charlton held on for victory.
The big French striker was targeted throughout by the visiting supporters and Powell was happy to see him silence the boo boys by scoring his third goal in as many games against his former club.
“I’m going to tell Yann that 23 other teams are called Leicester City because when he plays like he did today, I don’t think there's many strikers better than him, I really don’t,” the Valley chief said.
“He’s obviously a threat in the air but he’s very good on the ground.
“He’s a good footballer, he sees things other players don't and he’s got someone with him who is willing to do the work in Simon Church.
“Yann’s played against them three times and scored in each game, so it is pleasing for him.
“He had a rough time there, I was there as a coach and I always knew there was a good player there and that’s why I brought him here.
“I’m very, very pleased for him.”
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