Kevin Doyle hailed Wolves’ performance at West Ham as the best team display since he has been at the club.

Last night’s 3-1 win at Upton Park put Wolves seven points clear of the drop zone with seven games left.

It was also their biggest away win in the Premier League and equal biggest in the competition.

Doyle’s clinical 28^th minute strike opened the floodgates as Wolves took a 3-0 lead with Ronald Zubar and Matt Jarvis also on target before Guillermo Franco’s injury-time consolation.

“I think that was the best I’ve been part of at Wolves,” said Doyle.

“Just because it such a pressure game and to go 3-0 up then to be able to relax with 20 minutes to go, we all enjoyed it.

“We’ve played really well against teams such as Tottenham, but we haven’t been able to relax and enjoy the result until last night.

“That’s what made it a bit more special.”

Doyle believes Wolves are finally getting the luck that deserted them a few weeks ago.

“That last 20 minutes was the reward for a lot of weeks where we haven’t perhaps got what we deserved even against teams such as Manchester United and Chelsea,” he said.

“Now in the last couple of weeks, we’ve started to get that reward – as we said would happen.

“My goal wasn’t the easiest chance in the world – we’ve had ones hit the inside of the post and come out, but thankfully I struck that one sweet and it nestled in off the post.”

Doyle has worked his socks off for little reward too and he was delighted to have something to show for his efforts.

“I feel I’ve been playing well most of the season but it’s been difficult to get chances and therefore goals to go with the performances,” he said.

“So it was nice when you’re putting so much hard work and effort in to get some reward because when you’re playing well, you want to top it off with some goals.”

The £6.5m club record signing admitted he didn’t expect the victory to come quite as easy as it did.

“We expected to do well – we probably didn’t expect it to be as comfortable as it was – but we worked hard for it and we played well,” he said.

“We’ve been ahead in games before and been fighting for our lives and been scrapping for 50 minutes.

“But last night we had 20 minutes or so of being able to enjoy the win after going 3-0 ahead so it was nice to relax a bit.

“We couldn’t have expected that after the way things have been going this season.

“We’ve made it as hard as possible for ourselves at times but not last night.

“The fans loved it and really enjoyed it and so did we.

“I don’t know if the manager relaxed at all though!”

Such was the dominant nature of Wolves’ display that Doyle admitted the man of the match award could have gone to any Wolves player.

“David Jones, Matt Jarvis and Ronald Zubar for his great goal, the lads at the back – where do you stop?” he said.

“It was one of those nights where anyone could have got man of the match.”

West Ham fans booed their team and chanted “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” but the Republic of Ireland international had sympathy for them.

“As a fan when you’re 3-0 down to a team in a battle with you in the bottom four or five you’re not going to be happy,” said Doyle.

“It would be similar if we were 3-0 down at home – that’s the way it is, but if you’re 3-0 up they’re unbelievable and they get right behind you.”