Tudgay on Derby win - exclusive

The season ended with The Owls winning 2-0 at Pride Park in front of a 30,000-plus crowd thanks to Tudgay's early marker and Leon Best's deflected late strike.

Wednesday were backed by 5,500 fans that enjoyed the occasion and created a party atmosphere as the club cemented their first season back in the championship by finishing in a credible 19^th position.

But on-form Tudgay came back to his old stomping ground and helped his new club finish on a high after a season threatened with relegation – sending the hoard of Wednesdayites happy back up the M1.

He told Footymad: “It doesn't get better than coming back to your old club and scoring but it was a good game, it was good to score but even better to get the win. We finished above them in the table which is excellent. I did my job and got the goal but the win was more important.

“I didn't need to come back here to impress, obviously Sheffield Wednesday bought me and had faith in me. They had an idea about how I played and how I can help them when they watched me. But all I am concentrated on is playing my game and when I am on top of my game the goals will come.”

Tudgay, never lacking in confidence and self belief knows that Wednesday struggled earlier on in the season but their form of late was more resembling of a team pushing for promotion rather than one struggling at the other end of the table.

“We have been doing well,” he added. “Since I came here we were just chugging along initially and pumping the ball long but now we are showing what we are capable of and also showing that we can play a bit so now we know how well we can play, it can only get better next season.

“It has been a really tough season, for me at Derby and Wednesday but now I am here in Sheffield we have to look to get some more players in to add more quality to the squad. But now we are all looking forward to a nice break so we can recharge the batteries and come back strong.

“We have added some good players recently. Mikkel Bischoff has come in and played very well, shame he got injured. But well done to all the defenders, they have been the backbone of our recent form but the midfields and strikers have also done their jobs.”