James Wade hit out at the fans who booed him in Newcastle on Thursday evening, calling them "disgusting" and "wrong".
The Machine reacted angrily to the hostile reception he received from many of the 6,500 strong Metro Arena crowd following his 7-7 draw with Raymond van Barneveld, the majority of which turned up to support his popular Dutch opponent in a crucial Play-Off shootout.
Wade recovered from a disappointing start to the season to scrape into the final play-off place, defying the crowd to earn the point he needed to squeeze through.
The former Premier League champion will now face Phil Taylor in the Semi-Finals next week, but feels the result was overshadowed by the crowd's behaviour.
He told Live-Darts: “There’s a sense of satisfaction at getting through, but also disappointment with the way the crowd are.
“They are entitled to boo and cheer for everybody, that is what they do and pay their money for.
"Most of them out there are painters and decorators that earn their wages and their weekly pay that pays their mortgages.
"How would they feel if I snapped their paint brushes in half and put a hole in their paint tins, so why do it back?" added the 29-year-old.
Wade has made it to the final of this event in three of the last four stagings, but runs into a red hot Phil Taylor at the O2 this time around and knows he will have to produce his best form and more if he is to derail The Power's bid for a sixth league title.
"Phil's just got to play his ordinary darts and he'll win, but If I play how I can I will push him," said the left-hander.
The most memorable meeting between the pair came in 2010 Premier League final, a game in which Taylor produced two nine-dart finishes en route to a thrilling 10-8 victory and a fifth title.
Wade however will take encouragement from his six victories over the 15-time World Champion and is renowned for winning titles after The Power has exited the competition. Can he do it again on Thursday?
Bet365 make him 7/2 to beat Taylor and 7/1 to win the title.
Watch exclusive footage of Wade's controversial post-match press conference here:
