Former Leicester defender Paddy McCarthy returned to haunt his former club with a last-minute equaliser to earn Charlton a point in a 1-1 draw in the Championship clash at the Walkers Stadium.

Defender McCarthy, who left the Foxes to join Charlton in a £650,000 deal in the summer, hooked the ball through a crowded penalty area and into the far corner to silence the home supporters who had given him a frosty reception on his return.

It had looked like Stephen Clemence's first Championship goal of the season would give Ian Holloway back-to-back league wins for the first time as Leicester boss.

Clemence, whose only other goal this season came in the Carling Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest in mid-September, headed home Richard Stearman's cross in the 78th minute to give the hosts the lead.

Nicky Weaver got his hand to the ball but could not stop it rolling over the line.

The first-half was uninspiring and the main talking point was Chris Iwelumo's yellow card after 12 minutes.

Charlton's top scorer could count himself fortunate not to be sent off after he raised his hand to Stearman's face while making a tackle on the touchline.

But despite the protests of the Leicester players and supporters referee Scott Mathieson deemed the offence punishable by just a booking.

It took 24 minutes for the game's first goalmouth action to arrive when Marton Fulop punched a corner to the edge of the area and Matt Holland's low first time shot went narrowly wide.

Leicester's only piece of creativity came just after the half-hour mark as Iain Hume got in behind the Charlton defence on the left-hand side of the box but he dragged his shot across goal.

However, the chance was not gone as Stearman was following up at the far post but the defender put his effort into the side netting from an acute angle.

Charlton were marginally the better side during the first-half but Leicester's lack of communication and creativity must have been a concern for Holloway.

However, more of a worry for the Foxes boss will be the injuries to Joe Mattock and Collins John.

It was a lack of communication in the third minute led to Mattock colliding with team-mate Patrick Kisnorbo midway inside the Charlton half. The young midfielder was visibly shaken afterwards and had to be replaced by Alan Sheehan in the 15th minute.

John was injured in a challenge on the edge of the Charlton area six minutes later and was replaced by Jonathan Hayes.

Leicester were much-improved after the break and built up a head of steam during the early stages of the second half.

Matty Fryatt flicked a long ball forward into the path of Hume but his first-time volley was easy for Weaver after a deflection took all the pace off the shot.

The hosts continued to apply the pressure and Sheehan's free-kick produced the first save of the game as Weaver pushed his curling effort to safety.

Clemence gave Leicester the lead but Charlton looked dangerous on the break and Luke Varney poked the ball wide after a surging run from Jerome Thomas, before McCarthy rescued a point for the visitors in the 90th minute.

Teams

Leicester Fulop, Stearman, Kisnorbo, McAuley,Mattock (Sheehan 15), N'Gotty, Kenton, Clemence, Hume, Fryatt,John (Hayes 22), Sheehan (Wesolowski 76).

Subs Not Used: Henderson, Ashley Chambers.

Booked: Clemence.

Goals: Clemence 78.

Charlton Weaver, Bougherra, McCarthy,Fortune (Moutaouakil 65), Powell, Jerome Thomas,Semedo (Sam 80), Zhi, Holland, Varney, Iwelumo.

Subs Not Used: Randolph, Racon, McLeod.

Booked: Iwelumo.

Goals: McCarthy 90.

Att: 23,667

Ref: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).