“He is so nice. I want to see a nastier Stephen Bunting” – Ex footballer John Terry encourages Bunting to 'tap into dark arts' on stage

Stephen Bunting needs to be “a bit nastier” on stage, says former Chelsea footballer John Terry. Stephen Bunting is still waiting for his first win in this year’s Premier League Darts. After three weeks, “The Bullet” remains empty-handed and the pressure is mounting, especially as he was also on 0 points after seven weeks last year.

The current world number six lost 6-3 to Gian van Veen last Thursday in Glasgow. That leaves Bunting heading into Night Four with the task of finally getting his first points on the board.

Ahead of the Premier League night in Belfast, he receives striking advice from an unexpected source. Ex-footballer John Terry believes Bunting should tap into the “dark side” more often on the big stage to disrupt opponents’ rhythm.

In the Double Tops podcast, Terry says: "I have to say, with him, he seems like the nicest guy you will ever meet. When I am watching the darts — and him in particular — I want to see a little bit of nasty. Just barge someone or create a little something to throw people off. He is the nicest guy — nobody is going to stand there and have a fight with him."

According to Terry, that’s exactly where the problem lies. In a sport where rhythm is sacred, the slightest disruption can make all the difference. “But you then have to tap into the dark arts of going, ‘Okay, how can I drag my walk-out song even longer?’ I want to be second out. For the first set, I am going to drop my darts by accident."

“All of these bits — why not give them a go? If somebody is really good in their rhythm, how do you break that? You have to tap into stuff like that, and he needs to because he is so nice. I want to see a nastier Stephen Bunting.”