Darts legend Peter Manley previews week 9 of the Premier League in association with www.180bets.com

Peter: Over the border to Scotland for week 9 of the Premier League. It’s a place I know well as I do a fair bit of exhibition there and as the Scots enjoy their darts and a good night out, the atmosphere is sure to be electric.

Two of darts best characters in Jocky Wilson and Jamie Harvey are Scotsman and if I have one concern regarding the future of the game it’s that we won’t see the likes of those guys again.

What killed snooker was that a generation of very technically gifted players arrived on the scene and they replaced the old guard which included a lot of top names who were also characters like Alex Higgins.

It would be sad to see darts go the same way and the new generation need to remember that as well as being a dart player they are also in the business of entertaining people too.  

Take care, Peter.

Raymond van Barneveld vs Adrian Lewis.

These are the kind of games Adrian needs to win if he wants to really be considered one of darts big guns. With Barney not at his best Adrian has to get out of the traps and assert himself from the first dart thrown. As Raymond isn’t playing well I have a feeling he will do just that.

Simon Whitlock vs Terry Jenkins.

Terry isn’t playing at his best but I fancy him to get something here. He is a dogged old performer and not the type of guy to write off. Simon is playing well enough but he has a heel injury which causes him a bit of discomfort, for that reason it could be Terry’s night.

Ronnie Baxter vs Phil Taylor.

Ronnie should have beaten Phil in their last Premier League meeting and as a man in form he has a decent squeak here. Knowing Phil though he will want to give Ronnie a good hiding just to keep him in his place and show him who is the boss.

Mervyn King vs James Wade.

James isn’t at his best and he will need to up the ante here if he wants to get his Premier League campaign back on track. In Mervyn he is facing the man who I regard as the current world number 2 and so his task is not an easy one.

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