Premier League Darts: Back fan-favourite Barney in this 10/1 treble

The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is really atmospheric and will have a great crowd. There’s no Gary Anderson again, but Glen Durrant steps in, he’s the BDO World Champion and has won three consecutive titles there. He takes on Daryl Gurney who was magnificent last week

Chris Dobey, the local hero in Newcastle last week, put on a fine display in his match against Mensur Suljovic, drawing 6-6, and there were plenty of high quality darts last week, with Michael van Gerwen averaging nearly 105 and five players averaged over 100. The standard of this year’s Premier League is absolutely stellar.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 01: Michael Smith of England throws during the Final match against Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands during Day 17 of the 2019 William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace on January 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

Peter Wright v Michael Smith

Peter showed really good fighting spirit last week when he was 3-1 down against Rob Cross. He battled back to finish six apiece and averaged 101.56. Michael Smith is last year’s beaten finalist and was narrowly beaten in his opening match by Michael van Gerwen. He put up a brave display in that and this should be a good game.

I’m expecting Smith to do a job on Wright here. Snakebite’s record against Michael is very good, 15 wins to 8, but in the Premier League Smith has had the sign over Wright with two 7-1 victories last year. I’m expecting a good performance again from him here. He’s reached more finals in the last twelve months than he’s made in his entire career before that, so he’s really playing well at the moment.

7/4 Peter Wright versus 11/10 for Smith, I’m fancying Smith to win, but Peter won’t roll over and have his tummy tickled. A 7-4 victory for Michael Smith is 15/2 and would be my pick.

Rob Cross v James Wade

Rob Cross threw away a good lead last week and should’ve closed it out for victory, but his average was fantastic at 103 even if it ended 6-6 with Wright. He’s the former world champion and played really well.

For Wade, he averaged 99 and hit 58% of his doubles in a 7-4 win over Barney. I wouldn’t read too much into that. Raymond played dreadfully last week, he had the lowest average of all the players at just over 95 and was 31% on his doubles, so James Wade got lucky against an out-of-form Barney.

Rob Cross at evens is a cracking price, and the 7-5 victory for Rob Cross is 7/1.

LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 17:Raymond van Barneveld of the Netherlands looks dejected following defear during his first round match against Darius Labanauskas of Lithuania during Day five of the 2018 William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace on December 17, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Raymond van Barneveld v Gerwyn Price

With no Gary Anderson, Barney will be the hero in Glasgow, they love him in this part of the world. The Dutchman’s record by the Clyde is fantastic. He’s won 10 of 12 in the Premier League in Glasgow, so he’s had some fine form in Scotland.

Last week, rule out the low average, rule out the missed doubles, he’ll have been on the practice board after going down 7-4 to Wade.

For Price, he’ll get a lot of stick. They don’t like him in Scotland, they don’t like him in England, he’ll be under pressure. He did brilliantly last week, with six 180s and a 104 point average in his 7-4 win over Daryl Gurney, but Barney will bounce back. He’s 9/5 to beat Gerwyn Price and a 7-4 victory is a huge price at 6/1.

CAMBERLEY, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Glen Durrant of England celebrates with the BDO Lakeside Professional Men’s Championship 2019 Trophy after winning the final against Scott Waites of England on Day Nine of the BDO World Darts Championship at Lakeside Country Club on January 13, 2019 in Camberley, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)

Daryl Gurney v Glen Durrant

Glen is a great player. He’s a world champion of course, this year was the third consecutive time he’s won it. He’s two-times Masters champion as well. He’s just switched over from the BDO to the PDC and played in the Players Championship last week and he went all the way to the final, which is just brilliant. He lost 8-7 to Dave Chisnall, who played some scintillating darts.

Daryl will want to put up a fight, he doesn’t want the new boy taking bread off his table. The draw for me is tempting at 3/1. That’s a decent price, so it’s 6-6 for me between Gurney and Durrant.

Mensur Suljovic v Michael van Gerwen

MVG was fantastic last week. High average, six 180s, he was really breath-taking and more of the same should be expected this week. Mensur’s hasn’t a bad record against Michael compared to some, four wins to 10. He can’t live with van Gerwen though the way he’s playing, even MVG’s B game will beat him, so 3/10 for the van Gerwen win looks nailed on. 7-4 with Mensur putting up a bit of a fight is 11/2, and that’s a cracking price for me.

NAP: Van Barneveld win – 9/5

I’m really fancying Barney because he’s in front of the Glasgow fans, he’ll love it. They’ll be hero-worshipping him, they love him in Glasgow, so the fan support and the fact that Gerwyn Price will get a lot of stick from the fans means Barney will win the match.

Treble: Smith, Cross and Barney – 10/1

Michael Smith to beat Snakebite, then Rob Cross to see off James Wade, and a Barney victory is nice three-timer at 10/1.

You could throw in a draw between Gurney and Durrant and we could really be in the money for Valentine’s Day – the chocolates, the flowers, the missus will be delighted!