2024 Premier League Night 2 Preview & Tips

Now, it is time for James Punt’s 2024 Premier League Night 2 preview.

The PDC Whistler

Last week saw a loss of -1.45 points. There were a couple of minor surprises. Michael Smith beating MVG and going on to win the night was one.

The night was spoiled by the return of the PDC Whistler. Sitting beside the Sky TV effects mic, so close to the stage that the players could see him, but he was allowed to carry on, trying to influence the results of matches.

Clearly the PDC don’t mind that the credibility of their product is being undermined by attempted manipulation. Saying there is nothing that can be done is such bollocks. If the guy is right up the front and easily identifiable, why can’t he be ejected at the earliest opportunity?

All they need to do is to have a zero tolerance policy, explicit on the tickets. Anyone who is deliberately whistling to try and influence the result will be ejected. It may take a few weeks, but the problem would at the very least be driven further back into the crowd and not so much in the players’ earholes.

Targets

From a betting point of view, you have to take note. Clearly, the whistler has his targets. Anyone playing Luke Littler is going to get it. Luke Humphries is clearly a target and it is already getting to him. He feels disrespected. He is the World Champion and he is getting the full treatment. His chances of winning matches have just got slimmer.

Tonight we are in Germany so we shall have to wait and see if the Whistler has travelled to Berlin, or he has a German accomplice. There is a lot of money bet on these matches, so it is no surprise that someone or some organisation, would try an influence the outcome for gain.

Nathan Aspinall vs. Michael van Gerwen

Van Gerwen made his third tournament final of the season so far in Milton Keynes at the weekend. That tells us he is in great form, but the competition is just that bit tougher these days.

MVG has won eight of his last ten matches and is playing with great consistency. He takes some beating, but it can be done and his clutch doubling is not what it was.

Nathan Aspinall on the other hand is struggling, losing seven of his last ten matches and his scoring is weak. He did manage to beat the out of form Dirk van Duijvenbode and a disappointing Daryl Gurney at the weekend. Gurney should have beaten him and The Asp only averaged 91.48, which just about sums up where his game is right now.

MVG Leads H2H

Their H2H record is 16-7 to MVG, who has won eight of their last ten. In last year’s PL it was 2-2, with the Asp winning two deciding legs but losing one match 0-6. Aspinall was a better player this time last year and his confidence right now is low.

MVG is the 1.33 favourite but I’ll take him to win with something in hand. It is hard to see anything other than a high 90s average for MVG, while Aspinall is down in the low 90s.

2024 Premier League Night 2 Tip: 1 point MVG to win -2.5 legs @ 2.00 with Betvictor

Michael Smith vs. Gerwyn Price

A repeat of last week’s final which Smith won easily, 6-2. Gerwyn Price didn’t turn up, Smith shut the home fans up early, and it was an easy win. Price only averaged 92 and it summed his game up right now. Flashes of his A game, but not stringing much together.

Smith says he is back to work after slacking in 2023. It may take him a while to get back to his best but he is in decent form, winning six of his last ten matches.

Off Colour Iceman

Price withdrew from the Masters last weekend, citing family reasons. Is there something off the oche which has been affecting his game? I don’t know, but his form has not been his best for a few months now. He too has won six of his last ten matches, and his B game is useful, but he is struggling to string more than one or two wins together.

Their H2H record is close, 25-22 to Smith, including last week’s comfortable 6-2 win. They were 3-3 in last year’s PL. Smith made the final here last year, had the night’s highest checkout and hit the most 180s (15), so he has some good memories to draw on.

Gerwyn Price is the 1.79 favourite and Smith 2.10. That seems a little strange given last week’s result. These two have played twenty eight best of eleven matches and seventeen saw under 9.5 legs. Of the last thirteen best of eleven leg matches, no less than twelve have seen under 9.5 legs.

2024 Premier League Night 2 Tip: 1 point Michael Smith to win @ 2.10 generally available

2024 Premier League Night 2 Tip: 1 point under 9.5 legs @ 1.90 with Fitzdares

Luke Littler vs. Rob Cross

Rob Cross must be beginning to get sick. There is not a lot wrong with his game, his scoring is good, but he loses too many matches and it is usually because of his doubling.

He has now lost five of his last seven matches and across his last four matches, his checkout rate has averaged 25%. It is getting to him.

Luke Littler’s meteoric rise has stalled a little, which was inevitable. He is playing the big boys week in and week out now.

That said, he has played thirteen matches in 2024, won ten and is averaging 101.4. He has played Cross once in 2024 and won that 6-2 in the World Championship semi-final, averaging 106. I know which player will be feeling the more confident here.

Littler is the 1.44 favourite with Cross 3.00. It is very hard to back Cross given his double trouble and the odds on Littler look about right. Cross is still scoring well and if he does hit a few more doubles, he can make a match of this, but the likelihood is that Littler wins. No bet.

2024 Premier League Night 2 Tip: No Bet

Luke Humphries vs. Peter Wright

Humphries’ post World Championship hangover continues. He has lost four of his six matches since winning at Ally Pally. He did play better in Milton Keynes at the weekend, averaging 99.1, but he was hit by a bombardment of big ton plus checkouts by eventual tournament winner, Stephen Bunting.

A better performance, but he will be getting a bit fed up. He was certainly fed up in Cardiff last week after getting booed and whistled off his game against Littler. That was inevitable and at least Humphries may get an easier ride here.

Snakebite Struggling

Peter Wright continues to try and he has shown some early match form, but his confidence is low and he is easy to beat. He has lost seven of his last ten matches, failed to average above 94 in any and hit five sub 85 averages. It is hard to find any positives in his game.

Humphries may be feeling frustrated but he knows that this is a must win, and he really should win. It may be ugly, but the World Champion should come out with the win.

Wright was 3-1 vs. Humphries in 2023 so he will be clinging to some hope that he could make a decent start and hope that Humphries gets frustrated, but can Wright win six legs?

Wright getting a +3.5 leg handicap is tempting. The German crowds love him and they might get on Humphries’ case, which he would not like.

Tempting, but just not quite enough. No bet.

2024 Premier League Night 2 Tip: No Bet

-JamesPunt