Wolves manager Mick McCarthy expects a relegation battle right down to the wire but has backed Kevin Doyle to keep his side in the top flight.
Wolves boss backing striker to return to form and keep side up
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy expects a relegation battle right down to the wire but has backed Kevin Doyle to keep his side in the top flight.
There were three minutes left on the clock last season when Stephen Hunt scored for Wolves against Blackburn to keep them in the Premier League, narrowly avoiding relegation with Birmingham dropping down to the Championship.
And boss McCarthy is expecting another nerve-racking climax as he prepares his side for their derby with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
However, McCarthy is at peace following striker Doyle's return to form having scored the winner as Wolves prevailed 2-1 over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
"People say these games or those games will decide the outcome of the season," he said.
"I seem to remember being sat here last season, saying it might be the last kick of the season that it would go down to, maybe the last goal, the last point. That's how it turned out and maybe that will be the same again.
Important
"These next few games are vitally important but it could go to the very last game, and it looks like it will because it is ever so tight in the bottom half of the table."
"I was pleased with Kevin's performance. He looked back at it, looked powerful and skilful and he is a classy player and that is permanent."
Doyle lost his place in McCarthy's starting line-up as Stephen Fletcher consolidated the first-choice spot but the Republic of Ireland international returned to end a 13-game goalless drought.
"He has lost his form a bit but he came back with a bang on Saturday and was excellent," McCarthy added.
"His goal was lovely for him because playing well is one thing as a centre-forward but scoring goals is what his job is and so that gave him the most pleasure.
"Strikers would settle for playing mediocre and getting a couple of goals because that is what they are paid for.
Discipline
"He has had it tough with not playing and I can understand that because I've been there as a footballer."
Meanwhile, the manager is adamant that his side have the discipline necessary to handle the derby despite midfielder Karl Henry being shown a red card against local rivals Aston Villa two weeks ago.
"Listen, it was not like Karl," he added. "It was a moment of madness but our disciplinary record is generally good.
"We don't let things like that affect us. It was a mistake. We are all entitled to one."
Henry is suspended for the West Brom clash while Wolves suffered a further blow earlier in the week with Arsenal loanee Emmanuel Frimpong returning to the Emirates Stadium.
However, McCarthy could be boosted by the possible returns of Jamie O'Hara and Dave Edwards, who will face late fitness tests.
