Premier League: Robert Thornton ready for survival scrap on Judgement Night
Saturday 2 April 2016 14:28, UK
Robert Thornton believes his struggling rivals will be feeling all the pressure on 'Judgement Night' in the Premier League.
The Scot sits just above the bottom placed duo of Dave Chisnall and Michael Smith ahead of tonight's matches, live on Sky Sports, and two from the trio will be eliminated at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.
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Thornton moved off the foot of the table last week as he claimed a win over Smith and then a battling draw with Michael van Gerwen.
Smith and Chisnall are both a point adrift of Thornton, who could be safe by the time he faces Adrian Lewis, if neither man can pick up the necessary results.
I can just go up and enjoy myself and I'll give it everything.
"I know it's in my hands and there's more pressure on the other two players than me," said Thornton. "I can just go up and enjoy myself and I'll give it everything.
"My confidence is quite high now. I'm playing with new darts, with longer points and better grip, and starting to get used to them and I'm really looking forward to this week.
"I won't give in and if I can go up and perform the way I played last week, or even slightly better, then even if I lose I can go out with my head held high."
Smith's leg difference means he desperately needs a win from his match with Phil Taylor to give himself a real chance of survival.
"All I can do is focus on myself and on playing as well as I can against Phil because if I lose then I'm out anyway," he said. "I'll give it my best shot and do everything I can to get the win.
"Even if I get knocked out I want to end on a high. It's been a great couple of months and I'm really enjoying the Premier League, so hopefully I can survive on Thursday."
Chisnall takes on Peter Wright and fully admits that his own wasteful finishing has left him in this precarious position.
"I've been starting off alright but I've missed too many doubles and that's been the story of my season," said Chisnall. "It's been frustrating and I've had too many slack darts.
"It's all about timing and I'm getting it wrong - I'm not finishing the chances I'm getting. It's fine margins and on another night the doubles might go in, but it's my own fault. I put myself in this place so I have to dig it out.
"I've got a good record against Peter but if I keep missing doubles then I'm not going to win games, so we'll see what happens. I've been in this situation before and come through, so hopefully the result will go my way."
Watch all of the Premier League action on 'Judgement Night', with live coverage starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Or watch live for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
