Graham Taylor fears drop for Wolves

Former Wolves manager Graham Taylor fears the worst for his old team's Premier League survival fight.

Wolves go into the weekend second bottom and a point from the safety line before Sunday's West Midlands derby away to Birmingham.

Only Blues and rock bottom Wigan have scored fewer goals than Wolves' tally of 37 goals this term.

And Taylor believes the absence of star striker Kevin Doyle has been a big loss for Mick McCarthy's men.

The Republic of Ireland international has been out with torn medial ligaments since March 26 and Wolves have taken one point from 12 and conceded 11 goals since he was injured.

Although the £6.5million striker will be fit for the last two games, Taylor feels his loss has been their biggest loss.

He said: "Doyle has been a big miss for them. Most of the clubs who go down never score sufficient goals.

"But he is also an outlet for players to feed him, hold the ball up and get up in support.

"His work-rate is excellent. When you get somebody who's willing to work as hard as he does, it lifts everybody else.

"If your first man is working hard to close people down it reacts right through the team.

"I've seen Wolves on four occasions and they have played well enough but not won any of them.

"But some teams who are relegated are unlucky either on or off the pitch."

With Albion and Villa virtually safe and Blues probably one win from safety, Taylor believes Wolves are most at risk from losing their Premier League place in the season that has seen four West Midlands clubs in the top flight for the first time in a generation.

The ex-England and Villa boss added: "I still live in the West Midlands and it has been great this season having all the Midlands clubs in the Premier League.

"I want them all to stay there but I don't think that's going to happen."

Wolves were the first club Taylor managed after his England experience and his team failed in the Division One play-offs in his only full season, 1994-95, before he was sacked in the November, just 20 months after his appointment.