DARTS: PREMIER LEAGUE TIPS

IT'S week six of the Premier League darts at the MEN Arena in Manchester tonight and hopefully there will be fewer shocks than last time out.

Here's how Rodney Trotter sees the five big matches unfolding. The action starts at 7.10pm.

Michael van Gerwen v Wes Newton

We all expected Van Gerwen to beat Adrian Lewis last week but the two-time world champion did a couple of things right at the right time and got away with it. But I don't think Wes Newton is going to get away with it this week.

Van Gerwen was as poor average wise as we've seen him for some time but I expect him to put the pressure on Newton and have too much scoring power for him. Newton is under pressure now because he's second from bottom in the table and in the relegation mix.

He blew a 4-1 lead against Simon Whitlock last week, as he had done against Robert Thornton earlier in the tournament, and you can't afford to do that in this league. That could be the difference between him staying up and being relegated – and I expect Van Gerwen to put the pressure on him again this week.

Rod Roars: Van Gerwen (4-9, Blue Square)

Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson

This is such a hard match to call. These two players have the ability to turn up and blitz the other one but they're not hitting their top level consistently enough.

Last week Gary handed Phil Taylor his first defeat of the tournament but Taylor didn't play at the top of his game and Anderson did what he had to do.

Over the weekend Anderson went to Minehead and didn't play well while Lewis – who got his first win of the Premier League against van Gerwen – reached the quarter-finals and played some good darts.

By the form book you'd have to say this is a draw all the way. You can make cases for both players but I can see both players missing doubles.

Rod roars: Draw (7-2, various)

Simon Whitlock v James Wade

This is going to be the game of the night. It will pit the consistency of Wade against the consistency of Whitlock. Wade is playing exceptionally well and could have won theUK Masters so I'm going for him in a close game.

The draw wouldn't surprise me but Wade has got the right attitude and he's really playing well. In the last three weeks he's had 100-plus averages and been consistent on his doubles. The best I can see Simon getting is a draw.

He picked up an important win last week when he fought back against Newton but it wasn't the most impressive of victories and he's up against a different breed in Wade here. A year ago I'd have said Whitlock would win this no problem but with the way Wade's playing I see him emerging victorious.

Rod roars: Wade (27-20, unibet)

Raymond van Barneveld v Robert Thornton

Thornton is the dark horse of the Premier League this season. We thought the big crowds might get to him but they haven't and he's playing exceptionally well.

He's been hard to beat and although last week he was hammered 7-1 he still had a 99 average, which needs to be taken into account.

With the way he's played I expect this to be another close game. Barney has been playing really well but if he isn't on the top of his game Thornton could nick it.

Barney will probably have to average over 100 to beat him and produce some good finishes as well. And, given his current form, I reckon he'll do just that.

Rod roars: Van Barneveld (8-11, bet365)

Phil Taylor v Andy Hamilton

Taylor lost his first match of the season to Anderson last week and I can see Hamilton having a good go at him as well. Hamilton beat Taylor in the quarters of the UK Masters in Minehead over the weekend and Taylor hasn't been as consistent as he'd like to be with his new darts.

If Hamilton sticks with Phil, as he did last week, he can take out plenty of finishes and cause Taylor problems. But I think Phil is going to win. If he doesn't find the consistency he's been lacking over the past three or four weeks Hamilton could get a draw but I've got a hunch Taylor will nick it but it could be close.

Rod roars: Taylor (4-11, Ladbrokes)

Top Treble

Van Gerwen, Van Barneveld, Taylor

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