Charlton substitute Clive Mendonca snatched a draw for the struggling south Londoners with a last-gasp goal at Filbert Street.

Neil Lennon had warmed up for next week's Worthington Cup Final with a spellbinding first Premiership goal of the season to give Leicester the lead in the 60th minute.

The Northern Ireland international released a brilliant curling strike to finally beat impressive Charlton goalkeeper Sasa Ilic on the hour after a dour game looked set to end goalless.

For Lennon and his team-mates, a win would have been a timely boost ahead of the Wembley date with Tottenham and for the home fans, who had not witnessed a League victory at Filbert Street since December 12.

But former Grimsby man Mendonca ruined the premature pre-cup final celebrations and stretched his side's current run to just one defeat in six games.

But for Yugoslav international Ilic, defeat would have been a disconsolate end to his return to the first team after two months out.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley had dropped Ilic in favour of Simon Royce because of a dip in form but the Addicks keeper returned with brilliant saves to deny Lennon and Rob Savage in the first period.

But that was the only illumination in a first 45 minutes which had been a dour affair encased by Charlton's five-man midfield spoiling tactics which strangled the life from the match as Leicester needed long ball after long ball to find their way through.

Indeed only Steve Walsh's seventh-minute header over the crossbar from a Steve Guppy free-kick represented any real threat on goal.

But Ilic was called into action for the first time in the 24th minute when he reacted quickly to deny Heskey as the striker raced into the area to collect Gerry Taggart's hit-and-hope ball. But the Charlton goalkeeper comfortably saved.

But Ilic truly proved his worth seven minutes later when he brilliantly parried a Lennon drive after the Northern Ireland midfielder had rounded Carl Tiler.

Then two minutes later, Ilic was again the hero for the Addicks when he pushed away a terrific Savage drive after good work by Ullathorne on the left flank.

But in the 37th minute, the Yugoslav almost saw all his good work come undone when a Mark Kinsella slip allowed Ian Marshall space in the area.

Marshall successfully lobbed the approaching goalkeeper but his effort was not strong enough and drifted away from its intended target.

Martin Pringle almost gave the Premiership strugglers a surprise half-time lead three minutes from the break but he missed out on connecting with Danny Mills' long throw by a stud's length.

Midfielder Keith Jones was the only Charlton player to be cautioned in the first period but coach Mervyn Day found himself on the wrong end of referee Alan Wilkie who dismissed the former West Ham goalkeeper from the dug-out for dissent.

But just as people were wondering if the second period could become more boring it did - until the hour mark when Lennon conjured up a piece of magic.

Clearing the challenges of Kinsella and Richard Rufus, the Irishman raced to the edge of the area before playing a neat one-two with international colleague Taggart.

Lennon pulled back his right foot to launch a brilliant curling strike beyond Ilic.

Lennon should have made it 2-0 three minutes later when he burst into the area but Ilic stuck out an arm to deny the midfielder.

Charlton were reeling and boss Alan Curbishley threw on Mendonca, Steve Jones and the experienced John Barnes.

But almost immediately the Addicks were down to 10 men when Keith Jones received his marching orders for a second bookable offence in the 77th minute for a foul on Heskey.

Then in the dying seconds, Mendonca suddenly found space in the six-yard area to drive home Mills' long throw which had been flicked into his path by Taggart.

Teams:

Leicester: Keller, Savage, Ullathorne, Guppy, Elliott, Walsh, Taggart, Izzet, Lennon, Marshall, Heskey (Gunnlaugsson 77).

Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Sinclair, Kaamark, Campbell.

Goals: Lennon 60.

Charlton: Ilic, Mills, Powell, Redfearn (Barnes 74), Rufus, Kinsella, Hunt (S. Jones 74), Brown, K. Jones, Tiler, Pringle (Mendonca 74).

Subs Not Used: Barness, Salmon.

Sent Off: K. Jones (76).

Booked: Brown, Mills.

Goals: Mendonca 90.

Att: 20,220

Ref: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).