Kevin Doyle today urged Wolves to perform against their Premier League relegation rivals or face the dreaded drop.

Wolves go into Sunday’s Black Country derby against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns with six points from their last six games.

They have beaten leaders Manchester United, reigning champions Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool this season but, in contrast, Mick McCarthy’s men have lost six out of seven games against sides around them.

With eight of their final 12 games against teams currently in the bottom half of the table, £6.5m striker Doyle has urged his team-mates to reproduce their best form.

“We hope we’ll be alright if we can replicate the performances we’ve shown against the big teams,” said Doyle.

“If we could do that against those around us, that would make a bigger difference to the table. We seem to do it the wrong way around I prefer it the other way.”

Wolves are three points from the safety of 17th place, currently occupied by Albion. But Doyle insisted the belief in beating the drop remains rock-solid in the dressing room.

“We believe we’ll stay up. Believing in it and doing it are two different things but if you believe you will, it gives you half a chance,” he said.

Fulham’s goalless draw at home to Chelsea last night lifted them up to 12th spot. But they are only four points above the drop zone and Doyle believes the Premier League is shaping up to be the most exciting it has been for years at both ends of the table.

“Everyone is getting bunched up,” he said. “Four or five teams could win it, which makes it nice and as many as 10 teams could be relegated.”