Durrant not blaming Covid-19 for Premier League woes: “It’s psychological and confidence, I’m absolutely certain”

Glen Durrant sits rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table after the first block and with action resuming on Monday night, he has opened up on his period in the darting doldrums.

Durrant’s woes have been attributed by many to his battle with long Covid-19 following the Premier League title win last year but the three-time Lakeside champion believes it is solely confidence which has seen him effected on the oche.

“I did feel rubbish for 10 days. My game has never recovered from then. But I still don’t think the reason for my bad form today is because of Covid. I feel fit, I feel OK. It’s psychological and confidence, I’m absolutely certain,” said Durrant to Oche.

“My throw, my demeanour, the angle of the darts. I’ve forgotten how to smile, I’m not enjoying the game. I don’t want the sympathy. I’ve got a great life. My job is my hobby. I’m going through a tough time.

“But I’m probably getting sympathy from people who were furloughed, lost their jobs, lost some of their family in this pandemic. I don’t want people’s sympathy. I’ve had so many highs in my life. You’ve got to ride the lows sometimes. It’s the latest chapter in the story, a challenge that I will overcome.”

For Durrant, elimination looms and it of course is the worst part for the Teesside ace who said he felt cheated enough that he couldn’t win it at the O2 and now he is going out with a whimper in his title defence.

“It hurts until I’m sick to the stomach. That massive high of winning the Premier League I feel cheated I didn’t get to hold up that trophy at the O2 in London. So to go in as the reigning champion and to be relegated after Judgement Night it hurts like hell.

“That’s maybe where the inner demons are, you feel like you are defeated before you play. If I am to stay in the top eight I’ve got to beat Michael Van Gerwen, Jose De Sousa, Peter Wright and Rob Cross. I probably need six points at least to survive. That would be a story in itself.”

So what tactics will he employ to get over this slump? Surprisingly he said about window cleaning and said that he was thinking about working again to take his mind off things after giving up his full time career to play darts.

“I’m thinking of taking up window cleaning. It’s not something I was hoping for or anticipating what I’d be doing. But fresh air, being with my friends and not thinking about darts is the three things I need.

“It would only be a couple of hours. But I’m terrified of heights. Thankfully they don’t use ladders these days, apparently you just use a hose. You stand and aim it so I should be OK at that.”