Peter Taylor left the Valley clutching a match video that will not make pleasant viewing. His Leicester side deservedly suffered an eighth successive away defeat yesterday and find their European ambitions fading fast. From third on St Stephen's Day, they sit ninth after an April Fool's Day that gave them little reason to laugh.

Charlton, on the other hand, will be smiling contentedly. A spectacular late volley by Shaun Bartlett may have been out of keeping with much of a poor game, but Alan Curbishley's players at least showed the passing, movement and ability to keep possession that Leicester desperately lacked. Having leapfrogged Taylor's team, they retain an outside chance of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

On this form Leicester have no chance of making it into Europe. They mustered not a single shot on target and rarely threatened to equalise Andy Todd's first-half header. Taylor, to his credit, did not try to hide. He described the first-half showing as "very poor" and admitted composure was absent.

Even allowing for the absence of influential players such as Muzzy Izzet and Robbie Savage, this was a desperately poor Leicester performance that left question marks over Taylor's decision to buy in bulk from the Nationwide.

Ade Akinbiyi, a £5 million sterling signing from Wolves, started on the bench and his replacement, Trevor Benjamin, a £1 million arrival from Cambridge, looked laboured in attack. Junior Lewis and Callum Davidson were also peripheral figures.

Charlton, too, must improve on an away record that has yielded only 11 points from a possible 45 if they are to make it into Europe for the first time. This was not their finest display but with Claus Jensen impressive in midfield it always looked a matter of time before they broke down a defensive Leicester side.

Their best early chances had come from long range, with Jensen striking the bar from 30 yards and Chris Powell forcing Simon Royce into a sharp save before Todd nodded in his first Charlton goal after Bartlett had headed Jensen's corner against the bar.

Leicester improved a little after the interval but only poor Charlton finishing and a Royce save kept them in touch before Bartlett finished them off in style.

Graham Stuart collected possession just inside his own half and clipped a perfect 50-yard pass for the South African to volley in with his left foot from around 16 yards.

Charlton: Ilic, Fish, Todd, Rufus, Powell, Kishishev (Robinson 66), Parker (Kinsella 66), Jensen, Stuart, Johansson (Svensson 84), Bartlett. Subs Not Used: Brown, Caig. Booked: Todd, Parker. Goals: Todd 33, Bartlett 82.

Leicester: Royce, Rowett, Elliott, Taggart, Impey, Lewis, Marshall, Eadie (Oakes 40), Davidson (Akinbiyi 71), Benjamin, Sturridge (Gunnlaugsson 61). Subs Not Used: Flowers, Delaney. Booked: Impey, Sturridge.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).