Lewis Looking to Bounce Back

Adrian Lewis takes on Raymond van Barneveld this Thursday evening with the World Champion looking to bounce back from defeat in last week’s Premier League fixture.

Lewis and Barney are locked on two points, along with four other players, in the Premier League table with one win and one defeat from their opening two matches.

Lewis began the campaign with an emphatic victory over defending champion Phil Taylor, but met a resurgent and inspired James Wade in Nottingham last week where he eventually went down 8-6.

Barney, on the other hand, bounced back from a disappointing opening week, where he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, to record an emphatic 8-3 victory over Simon Whitlock.

The Dutchman hit four ton-plus checkouts on his way to an 8-3 victory with a 100.15 three-dart average.

"I know what I can do and for the last two years I've only done it on the practice board and not on stage regularly,” said Barney after his win.

"I've tried different types of flights and took the decision to go back to my old, kite-shaped flights, and I've been working hard on my finishing and it paid off tonight."

Lewis is the Even money betting favourite with the bookmakers whereas van Barneveld can be backed at 2/1 to record back-to-back wins.

League leader Gary Anderson takes on fellow Premier League debutant Mark Webster in one of the night’s other eagerly anticipated fixtures. The Scot has looked imperious in defeating Simon Whitlock and Terry Jenkins in the opening two weeks but could face his toughest match yet against Webster.

Anderson, who admits to feeling nervous in front of the big Premier League crowds, had a poor weekend in the Players Championship events. He lost in the second round to Pete Hudson on Saturday and in the first round to Brendan Dolan on Sunday.

Despite that dip in form the bookmakers make Anderson the clear 8/11 betting favourites to maintain his 100% record in the tournament with Webster at 11/4 to cause an upset and the draw at 9/2.