Darts / David Croft / 24 February 2009 / Leave a comment

James Wade has been off-colour at the oche of late but a fine performance last week means that David Croft thinks he might have a chance of defeating Phil Taylor in Belfast.

Last week in Coventry we had another all square round robin fixture - the third time in three Premier League nights that the first match on stage failed to find a winner - but it wasn't the draw we were expecting.

Fair play to Terry Jenkins though, who must have thought that at 6-4 up he was in with a chance of victory, before the Power hit back to earn a point. The sigh of relief from those who had taken the [1.41] on offer for Taylor not to lose a match in the league, could be heard long into the night.

According to Betfair backers Taylor faces a more comfortable night in Belfast on Thursday with The Power priced at [1.32] to beat James Wade. But don't forget that Wade was the man who finally ended Phil Taylor's unbeaten run in the Premier League, a run that lasted three seasons and 44 matches.

James has been off colour on the oche in recent months but he can, and often does, raise his game against the better players. He certainly did against Barney despite going 4-1 down at the start. To win seven legs on the trot was a fine performance, to average 120 for the last six legs was brilliant darts. Should he repeat that against Taylor he'll win, no question. James says that last week was hopefully the start of things to come for him. If so, a tempting [7.4] to beat The Power might just attract some support behind the man they call 'The Machine'.

The night starts with John Part against Wayne Mardle. Given that so far each opening match has ended 7-7, it's surely worth a small speculation on the draw. Betfair punters can get [5.0] on the draw and given that there's barely four points difference between the two player's averages and that so far the four matches played against each other have produced two wins each, isn't it time for the draw? I could make a case for either winning but given their lack of consistency I couldn't be totally sure. The draw stands out.

After his opening three matches Raymond Van Barneveld is bottom of the table and without a win. On ability alone it's a false position and one that he should rectify sooner rather than later. He's still an attractive [3.15] in the winner without Taylor market and [1.7] to beat Terry Jenkins on Thursday night. It's a match that he should win but I have a slight worry about Barney's lack of fight at present.

He's been on the receiving end of brilliance from both Wade and Taylor but he didn't throw much back to turn things around. If Terry Jenkins replicates his form from last week the Dutchman could be heading for another defeat. I couldn't back Barney with confidence at the moment so maybe at [3.3] Jenkins is worth the risk.

Which brings me on to one man who is worth taking a risk on at the moment. Mervyn King, now a second favourite at [9.2] to win the Premier League, and [2.1] in the winner without Taylor market. His three matches so far have brought him three wins, during which he's dropped only four legs.

Here is a man who looks very much at home in front of the big crowds and to me is the only real opposition to Phil Taylor in the tournament. At [1.49] to beat Jelle Klaasen, King will still attract plenty of support but given that the young Dutchman, like Barney, is struggling with his own form, what price the whitewash on Thursday night?

Betfair backers can get [40.0] on King to win 8-0, a hefty return and worth a little punt with King throwing first in the first leg. So far he's shown the sort of game that has left his opponents little or no chance against him, prepared to bully from the off with big scores at the start of the leg. Klassen could find himself under pressure very quickly.