Matt Doherty: Wolves can prove we're the real deal

And he believes victory against Villa today would prove Wolves are the 'real deal'.

Wolves are 7/4 favourites with bookies to lift the Championship trophy next May despite not having yet topped the table this season.

A fantastic start under Nuno Espirito Santo has got fans dreaming of promotion.

Doherty said the pressure isn't an issue for the players – and he can't wait for today's big derby.

"We've no problems with the expectations," he said. "It won't be an issue at all.

"Molineux's pretty much sold out, it's on TV, a huge game, local derby – what else can you ask for?

"That's the difference between playing Aston Villa and maybe Fulham or someone like that.

"It's loud before a ball's even been kicked.

"We've played in those atmospheres before, it's something we're all used to and it won't phase us.

"You want to play in that every week.

"Villa have won a few in a row, they've got a lot of dangerous players and their squad is one of the best in the league.

"They've probably underachieved so far. The Championship;s a long season, you can have a bad start and still come good which it looks like they're doing now."

With a big crowd and a hostile atmosphere today, Doherty admits it will have a different feel to most matches.

"Derbies are different," he added. "When we played against Birmingham away last season, during the manager's team talk you can hear the crowd banging because the changing rooms were right under the away end.

"In a normal game that probably wouldn't be the case because the fans are extra excited.

"In that way it might change a team talk a bit. We're really up for it.

"We won 1-0 at home (against Villa last season) and drew away where we gave one of our best performances of the season. We took them apart completely and just couldn't score.

"It would mean a lot to win because they're a big team. If we can do what we've been doing against so-called lesser teams and then go and beat Villa like that, on the TV, it'll be a statement that we're the real deal."

Doherty also said the international break came at a bad time for Wolves after their 4-0 win at Burton.

"When we beat Burton we kind of wanted to keep rolling into games, confidence was sky high," he added. "You want to play on the Tuesday to get out there again."