Rotherham United taunts spurred on Sheffield Wednesday match-winner – but not too much

The Owls striker bent a few noses out of shape amongst the Millers fanbase when he chose to drop down a division to aid Wednesday’s promotion push last season, something he did with aplomb after becoming the club’s first striker to hit 20+ goals in over a decade as they secured a spot in the Championship.

It’s been over a year since his departure, but football fans aren’t known to forgive and forget, though, and over the weekend his touch was booed and his name chanted not so politely. That was until he scored the opening goal, and then got his second 15 minutes later.

When asked if the jeers gave him a bit extra at Hillsborough he admitted that it did, but with the Owls battling at the foot of the table he just wants to score goals – whoever they’re against.

“It does, yeah, but it’s a funny one,” ‘Smudga’ told The Star “With the position that we find ourselves in, I just want to score goals and do well every time I set foot on a football pitch - whether that’s an old club or not. You always want to do well, and it does give you an added extra, but it’s just one of those.

“I got a bit of stick for setting myself up! I should’ve scored with the first touch, but I managed to shank that into my path and stick it away. It’s obviously a nice feeling, and I’m one of those strikers that doesn’t care if it goes in off my backside - I’m rarely scoring 30-yarders, so I’ll take anything.”

He’s still got a long way to go if he’s to hit the heights of last season in terms of his goal tally, but with three second tier goals to his name this season he needs just eight more to make 2023/24 his best campaign in the division to date, and that’s a target that he can no doubt set himself as the Owls look to beat the drop come May.