Aspinall opens up on brutal self-criticism after admitting he’s “playing rubbish” on tour

NATHAN ASPINALL admits he has been telling himself he’s “playing rubbish” despite being one of the PDC’s form players.

The world No16 revealed his brutal self-criticism after averaging a stunning 106 to thrash Niko Springer 6-1 in the second round of the Flanders Darts Trophy.

Aspinall, 35, has enjoyed an excellent campaign on the ProTour, reaching the Players Championship One final and winning the German Darts Grand Prix.

The Stockport thrower has also withdrawn from several events this year but showed no signs of rust as he stormed into the last 16 in Antwerp.

Aspinall explained he has been left baffled by his own assessment of his displays on the circuit.

He said: “It was a great performance. I have been playing the last few weeks and doing it at home, and I've been going, ‘I’m playing rubbish.’

“I seen a stat saying I have been playing the fourth best over the last couple of months.

“I think tonight I am trying not to put pressure on myself and enjoy it. I am playing really well. I finished really well and scored really well.

“I gave the crowd something to cheer about, happy days, and on to tomorrow.

“I didn’t want any more legs. I want to go back and have a pint.

“I am very overcritical of my own performance. I walk off stage and go, ‘That was rubbish,’ and I averaged 97 or 98.

“I need to stop doing that because that puts more pressure on yourself. Come up here, you know you are playing well, just throw your darts.

“I did that tonight. It was a smaller crowd than what we are used to, so I could concentrate more.

“The performance, great win. Niko is a fantastic dart player. We will see how tomorrow goes.”

The Asp returns to action on Sunday afternoon and will face either Stephen Bunting or Brendan Dolan for a place in the quarter-final at the Euro Tour event.

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning