Michael Smith can return stronger from his Premier League exit, says Wayne Mardle
Saturday 2 April 2016 14:23, UK
Michael Smith will return to the Premier League even stronger after his painful exit on Judgement Night, says Wayne Mardle.
The 25-year-old endured a difficult debut season in the competition and was eliminated on Thursday night after a 7-5 defeat to Phil Taylor condemned 'Bully Boy' to the bottom position in the table.
Smith paid the price for wasteful finishing in previous weeks as he and Dave Chisnall both suffered an early exit at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.
But Mardle believes this early exit will serve as a harsh lesson for Smith, a quarter-finalist at the World Championships, and expects him to make another Premier League appearance in the future.
"It's the damage that has gone on in previous weeks," Mardle told Sky Sports. "Thirty-seven per cent on his doubles throughout the Premier League.
But it's a massive learning curve, massive experience for him, he'll be back. He's world No 8, that's how good he is.
"Him and Dave Chisnall are bottom on the percentage and it's not a coincidence they are bottom and second from bottom in the table. You can't hit doubles to that quality, which is quite low to be totally honest, and expect to be anywhere else. The likes of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, they are loitering around the 50 per cent mark.
"On their day, they can all score, but the saying 'scoring is for show, doubles for dough,' it's no joke, it matters. You need to finish, and Michael Smith throughout the duration of the nine matches has just not finished as well as some of the others and that's why he's bottom.
"But it's a massive learning curve, massive experience for him, he'll be back. He's world No 8, that's how good he is."
