And almost the worst attack.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's team have scored just 36 goals in 39 games this season and only Rochdale and Bury have fewer. Their real problem, however, is their defence which with 63 goals conceded is the most porous in the division. Their goal difference (minus 27) is equalled only by bottom place Bury. Northampton haven't won a game since beating AFC Wimbledon in early February (8 games ago) and they haven't won at home since beating Milton Keynes in mid January (5 games ago). They sit in 21st place.

Just a week ago this is the sort of fixture that Charlton might have been expected to lose. It is almost a year since the team put on a lacklustre performance to lose 1-2 at The Sixfields Stadium while a loud band of their supporters marched through the streets of Duchatelet's home town of Sint Truiden in protest at his dereliction of the club. Until Karl Robinson's departure last week we might well have expected a similar performance on Friday but  Lee Bowyers's introduction of a two striker attack has suddenly changed perceptions of our team's chances. The apparent imminence of a sale of the club has also added to the sense of growing optimism.

So Charlton fans now travel to Northampton in full expectation of three points and a revitalised play-off chase and it is not entirely impossible that our team could be back in sixth place by 5pm. We just need Rotherham to beat Peterborough and Chris Powell to do us a favour down at Plymouth. Even if this doesn't transpire a win at Northampton would set up our game against Rotherham on Easter Monday very nicely indeed.