The Golden Age of the striker, or just the Dark Ages of defence?

What is his secret in inspiring them back to form? When he became Tottenham manager last season he sorted Emmanuel Adebayor, turned him from a peripheral grump into a bloke who looked happy scoring goals. Now at Aston Villa he appears to be doing the same with Christian Benteke.

This is a forward who had scored just two goals all season before the new manager’s arrival. Since Sherwood parked his gilet in the dugout, he has netted seven. On Tuesday night at Villa Park the Belgian looked almost unplayable: strong, purposeful, full of vigour. He scored a blistering hat trick of very different goals: a breakaway, a solo shimmy, a free kick.

If he had exhibited a fraction of that sort of form earlier in the season, Villa would be nowhere near the relegation zone. As it is, their fans are left praying that Sherwood’s revival does not prove too little too late.

Because the truth of relegation has long been this: it is strikers who make the difference. Get someone up top who scores and your fears will evaporate.

Unless, that is, you are Queen’s Park Rangers.

Every rule has an exception. And this season Charlie Austin has been that. 16 times he has scored for a side who have spent much of the year marooned in the basement. Watching him on Tuesday night was to see a proper predator in action. His goal that briefly suggested Rangers would return to Shepherds Bush having pinched three points was an absolute belter. Sharp, ruthless, executed with cool-headed precision, it was a joy to watch. And seasoned Rangers followers insist he has been like that all year.

So how come his team is floundering? Goals surely mean survival, don’t they?

The reason is pretty clear to anyone who has seen them in action this year. They cannot defend. Their backline has more holes in it than a rusting colander. When the opposition roll forward these are defenders apparently eager to raise the white flag. Against Benteke, they were surrendering from the moment he first touched the ball. They made it very easy for him.

For sure, defence is not simply a responsibility of those at the back. It is legitimate to suggest, for example, that in the way he relentlessly chases and harries when his team is not in possession, Harry Kane has been among Tottenham’s most effective defenders this season.

Midfielders too should be doing their bit. Frankly I could have played behind Claude Makelele and looked good. And no-one would confuse Joey Barton or Sandro with Claude Makelele.

But QPR’s backline frailty is part of a wider pattern: the standard of defending in the Premier League is as low as it has ever been. When Manchester United, a team that look constantly on the verge of defensive implosion, stand third in the table you know this is not a peak time for the guys at the back. Nor, when John Terry is far and away the best in the business, does this look a trade awash with youthful talent. Recovery does not look as if it lurks around the corner.

So what has happened? Are modern coaches, following the lead set by Arsene Wenger, simply not interested in defending? Do they think all that is required is a tactical consideration of whether to play three or four back there? Does – to pluck a name at random – Roberto Martinez actually know how to tell his players how to execute a tackle?

Jose Mourinho is easily the best defensive coach in the division. In the past he has given a rolling masterclass in how to stop the opposition scoring. But even he is struggling to do that in this era. As was demonstrated by Chelsea’s floundering in the Champions League.

Here’s a little test: name the best centre back pairing in the Premier League apart from Terry and Cahill. Mertesacker and Koscielny? Jones and Rojo? Kompany and Demichelis? Sakho and Toure? None of them exactly fall into the category of legends. They are no Maldini and Baresi. And these are the pairings of the next four sides in the current table. Venture further down and the pickings grow progressively thinner until you arrive at Rangers and the very point of emaciation.

Which may, of course, explain Tim Sherwood’s little striker trick. All he might have done, first with Adebayor and now with Benteke, is point out who they are up against. Come on, he might have said, when you are facing this lot there really is no reason to sulk. As a striker you are living in a golden age of defensive hopelessness. Fill your boots.