Mardle on current state of Premier League table after Night Ten: "There's gaps appearing now and that's what you kind of expected"

Night 10 saw the return of Premier League Darts action and following Nathan Aspinall's victory over Peter Wright, Wayne Mardle looked at the current state of the table and the main protagonists.

"You're not going to play well every week. Michael (van Gerwen) and Phil (Taylor) made a career out of it mostly. It was so tough but he (Aspinall) still won and he will look at the table like he said I'm buzzing for the two points and he's now four points off the fifth placed player," said Mardle on Sky Sports.

"There's gaps appearing now and that's what you kind of expected to happen maybe two or three nights ago."

A big tie awaits on Night 11 to begin proceedings between two of the main title contenders in Dimitri van den Bergh and Nathan Aspinall and for Mardle, there is some big clashes up and down the line-up.

"I look at every fixture now and think that's a big game. They are all big games and they all have meaning to them."

"If Gary Anderson loses to Peter Wright, I don't think he's got any chance. Michael van Gerwen will want to play well again against someone who has had his number recently (Jonny Clayton)."

"Aspinall, Van den Bergh along with Jonny Clayton and Jose de Sousa are probably the form horses in the race. They want to keep that going."

He also discussed Michael van Gerwen's brilliant victory and how if he produces consistent displays, it could see the return of the Green Machine.

"I felt for him to play like that, he's got belief. He mentioned it in his interview that he went to Germany and had a terrible time. He played awfully there."

"Dimitri didn't roll over, he just played brilliant Michael. If he does it again, he might be saying maybe I am back a bit."