Taylor is second from bottom of the Premier League of Darts (Getty)

The defending champion suffered an 8-3 defeat to Cumbria's Peter Manley, leaving him with just one win from his opening four matches.

Taylor said: "I'm not playing like I can do on stage at the moment, I'm getting nervous and it's affecting me."

Taylor's practice partner Adrian Lewis retained third place in the table after he beat Wayne Mardle.