Lyndon Dykes could not hide his delight after netting his first goal for Charlton Athletic, a strike that helped secure a memorable 2-0 victory over managerless Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. The result piles further pressure on the Foxes, who have now suffered two consecutive defeats under interim coach Andy King.
Leicester's Nightmare Start Under King
The Leicester owner, Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha, was in attendance for King's first match in charge following the dismissal of Martí Cifuentes. However, any hopes of a positive start were dashed early when defender Caleb Okoli received a straight red card in the 15th minute for pulling back Miles Leaburn as he raced towards goal.
Charlton initially had a 21st-minute goal disallowed, with Harry Clarke's header from a Sonny Carey corner ruled out despite no clear infringement on goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk. The visitors' persistence paid off, however, as Carey opened the scoring in the 36th minute, coolly converting Harry Clarke's low cross for his seventh goal of the campaign.
Dykes Seals the Deal for Charlton
The Addicks doubled their advantage just before half-time. Scotland international Lyndon Dykes expertly guided Luke Chambers's cross back across Stolarczyk, marking his third goal of the season and, more importantly, his first for his new club since joining Charlton.
Leicester were handed a lifeline in the second half when a penalty was awarded after Abdul Fatawu's arm was tugged by Amari’i Bell. However, Jordan Ayew's spot-kick struck the left post, summing up a frustrating evening for the home side.
Southampton Secure Vital Away Win
Elsewhere in the Championship, Southampton eased to a 2-0 victory at Stoke City, giving interim manager Tonda Eckert a perfect 33rd birthday present and their first league win on the road since November. Goals from Finn Azaz, who finished a fine early move, and Flynn Downes, who prodded home after the break, sealed the points.
The Saints, who have underwhelmed since their relegation from the Premier League, were without Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer due to impending transfer deadline activity. However, Taylor Harwood-Bellis started despite reported interest from West Ham.
Wrexham Grind Out Victory at Hillsborough
Wrexham continued their impressive form with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. The only goal of the game came in the 58th minute, with Sam Smith poking home Issa Kaboré's dangerous cross for his fourth goal in six Championship appearances.
Derby Run Riot in Friday Night Thrashing
Rounding off the Championship action, Derby County produced a stunning 5-0 demolition of Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Friday night. First-half goals from Rhian Brewster, Ben Brereton Díaz, and Bobby Clark were supplemented by second-half strikes from Patrick Agyemang and Lars-Jørgen Salvesen, moving Derby above their opponents in the table.
