AITOR KARANKA thinks Patrick Bamford’s first double in a Middlesbrough shirt can give him the confidence to end the season in style.

Bamford struck two second half goals to complete a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town yesterday which means Boro stay level on points with Bournemouth and Watford in the Championship promotion race.

Middlesbrough travel to fourth-placed Derby County on Tuesday night and Bournemouth on Saturday for two away days which could have a serious impact on the title race.

But after being rewarded for sticking Bamford up front against Ipswich with two goals and a victory, Karanka looks set to keep the Chelsea youngster in that role for longer.

He said: “Patrick is sometimes better when we play him more open, not as a winger. Here he played up front and he scored two goals, but he needs to be comfortable and confident and with these goals he'll be very confident going forward.

"His goals helped make sure it was the best way to start the week and now we have a very big game against Derby. It is different to go there when you have lost, but now we have won and we have confidence.

“We have shown everyone what kind of team Middlesbrough is and we have to keep going this way.”

Middlesbrough took the lead courtesy of Daniel Ayala’s fourth minute header but then Ipswich equalised seven minutes later when Daryl Murphy pounced on a mistake from goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos.

But after Albert Adomah had powered in a low finish from just inside the half hour to put Middlesbrough ahead, the stage was set after the restart for Bamford to take his tally to 15 goals.

The victory was soured by a recurrence of the ankle problem which had prevented Ayala from playing in the previous seven matches. The Spanish centre-back had to be replaced by Jonathan Woodgate in the first half.

Karanka said: " Patrick scored two goals and other players scored goals but Daniel gave us a lot of confidence, a lot of experience and I am very pleased with him.

"But I've always said Woody is an important player to us. If he's fit, he can be very important for us because of his experience. It's important to manage your emotions and I'm very happy with him as captain.”