Soutar hopes Suljovic bears “the scars” of Fallon defeat

By Phil Lanning

ALAN SOUTAR is hoping that Mensur Suljovic is still bearing “the scars” of losing to Fallon Sherrock at the Ally Pally.

The Arbroath ace faces the Austrian this afternoon in the second round of the World Championship.

Suljovic has looked vulnerable since losing to the Queen of the Palace two years ago and was involved in a controversial defeat to Gary Anderson 12 months ago on the same stage.

Soutar, 43, said: “I think I can beat him but I’ve not played him before.

“If I turn up and play my UK Open stage game, I can beat him. I’m quite happy that I won and I know there’s more to come.

“I have seen Mensur’s form. I love darts, I look at darts, I watch interviews and what everyone is doing on the tour. I look at the stats, I look at the rankings. I’m aware of what he’s been doing. He’s not been at the Pro Tours as well. 

“It’s pretty obvious he’s not been at the Pro Tours and his form is going to struggle. 

“He had a good World Cup but maybe Rodriguez pulled him through that. Let’s hope that the scars from Fallon two years ago are still sore and he doesn’t play his best against me.”

Soutar squeezed past Diogo Portela on his debut despite getting a lot of stick from the English crowd.

He added: “I enjoy that side of darts. Coming from amateur darts and BDO, the crowd is not like that.

“The whole point of Sky Sports and PDC on the TV is a mega popular watch on TV for that reason alone. 

“I wanted to get involved in it. I’m also aware that I’m here to play darts. I maybe need to knock that back a little bit. 

“I love all that, I love the Scotland v England banter I always have. The crowd went straight for me because of my trousers. I thought ‘oh no what have I done’.

“Do you know what, I’m alright with that. It’s not a Gerwyn Price thing, they are not booing me, they are just engaging and being a bit England-Scotland, which is fine. 

“I was listening to Willie getting it the other night, but he banged in a nine-darter and kept them quiet. 

“Russ Bray said to me on the stage after the second break, he said ‘you’re doing the right thing, you’re keeping them quiet’.

“Willie totally inspired me and Arbroath. Willie’s game was just mad. The stuff that’s happened afterwards for him is amazing for Scottish darts, for him. So for me I was looking up to do the same.

“Obviously you’re not going to repeat that ever. But to do that, cheers Willie for setting me up to try and follow that!

“It’s been a great weekend for Scottish darts and Arbroath being top of the Championship is unreal.

“Me and my wife watched Arbroath down here, it was tremendous. It was a bit scrappy because the weather’s not great in Scotland is it? It wasn’t the best.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.