Premier League Darts: Adrian Lewis will beat Phil Taylor, says Rod Harrington
MvG can hit a nine-darter
Wednesday 11 February 2015 16:20, UK
Adrian Lewis will defeat Phil Taylor in Bournemouth on Thursday, predicts Rod Harrington.
The Stoke duo will face off in the second leg of Premier League Darts with Lewis tipped for success after thrashing Raymond van Barneveld 7-1 last week in Leeds.
Taylor slipped to an opening day defeat to Gary Anderson, and Harrington believes he will lose again when playing Lewis.
Adrian Lewis (13/8) v Phil Taylor (11/10)
Harrington says: "These two always steal the show. Taylor always does because of who he is, but the way Lewis played last week against Barney was unbelievable.
"When you play Phil, you need the right mind-set. Even if you’re coming into the game playing brilliantly, if you don’t have the right mind-set, you won’t beat him. I think Adrian has got that.
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"But if Adrian isn’t playing the game he has played over the past week, then he won’t beat Phil, it’s as simple as that.
"Taylor changed his darts and hasn’t quite worked them out yet. It will take him a few weeks to work them out, just like last year’s Premier League. Gary Anderson caught him at the right time last week and Adrian will catch him at the right time on Thursday."
Prediction: "I’ve got to tip Adrian to win this. I fancy him, like Gary Anderson against Taylor last week, to just nick it."
Michael van Gerwen (4/7 with Sky Bet) v Stephen Bunting (3/1)
Harrington says: "Van Gerwen won two floor events at the weekend and he is on fire. The thing I like about Michael is that he looks so strong at the moment. On Sunday afternoon, after a few hard days, he was still bouncing about.
"Throughout January he had a holiday, apart from one exhibition event, and that proved what I always tell the players – if you get the chance to rest, you have to recharge the batteries.
"Bunting showed bottle to take out 68 against James Wade last week. He’s a good player but he’s playing someone whose confidence is in the right place and whose game is in the right place. Van Gerwen ticks every box."
Prediction: "Van Gerwen. I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t average over 100 and he can perhaps have a go at a nine-darter because he’s playing that well."
Peter Wright (7/2) v Gary Anderson (1/2)
Harrington says: "I like Anderson, he’s a no-nonsense player who steps up and throws his darts without complaining. He’s a great ambassador for the game as a world champion. He has natural power scoring, he just flicks it in. That’s box office for Premier League.
"Wright has changed his darts and even changed this throw last week – the Premier League isn’t the place to do that. But he’s proved how good he is over the past two or three years.
"Anderson should do the job, although he has had man flu this week!"
Prediction: "I’ve got to go with Anderson to win."
Dave Chisnall (11/8) v Raymond van Barneveld (11/8)
Harrington says: "Barney has been struggling for a few years, when he won the Premier League last year it came out of the blue. The year before he won the Grand Slam out of the blue when he wasn’t even going to turn up.
"Barney is a natural player who really needs a James Wade brain for darts. It doesn’t matter how many people tell you you’re a great player, you have to prove it to yourself.
"Barney has one bad result and he’s on the floor. In any match, if he plays well in the first two or three legs he’ll give you a hard game but he can let you into your stride."
Prediction: "Up until last week, he was throwing brilliant darts at crucial times of the leg, he was giving opponents one dart at a double under pressure and nicking the leg. If he does it this week, he’ll do well, but if not…"
James Wade (10/11) v Kim Huybrechts (2/1)
Harrington says: "Last week was always going to be hard for Huybrechts taking on the world No 1 Van Gerwen in front of 11,000 people in his Premier League debut. All the odds were against him but he still gave a good account of himself. He’s got the game to beat Wade.
"Wade is a number cruncher, he doesn’t throw many over-100 averages. It’s all around the 97, 98 and 99 with 40-plus percent on doubles. He’s a machine with as much bottle as anybody in the game."
Prediction: "Wade’s all-around game is a little too powerful for Kim. If you look at the form coming in, I think Wade nicks it."
Rod, are you hoping for better weather in Bournemouth this time?
Harrington says: "Last year, we had those horrific storms. The sand was piled up on the huts, it got in all the restaurants. Most of the beach was on the land. It’s funny how you remember these things!"
And finally... who would play you in a film of your life? And who would you dream of playing darts with?
Harrington says: "Sean Bean, that sort of actor, would play me but I know I’d like Roger Moore!
"I'd like to play darts with George Best. I played football and he was the kingpin, he was my idol. It wouldn’t just be darts, it would be a good bit of fun."
Watch Premier League Darts live from Bournemouth on Thursday at 7pm on Sky Sports 1 HD.
