PATRICK BAMFORD has insisted ‘it’s not all about me’ after his latest goal at the Riverside Stadium earned comparisons to former Middlesbrough striker Fabrizio Ravanelli.

Bamford became the first Boro player to score 16 league goals since Ravanelli’s achievements in 1997 when he scored the second in a 2-0 win over Rotherham United on Saturday.

The 21-year-old is not even old enough to remember the days of the White Feather scoring goals for fun in that ill-fated relegation season, when Boro also reached two cup finals and lost them both under Bryan Robson.

But he is delighted to have equalled Ravanelli’s tally even though Aitor Karanka has changed his outlook on the number of goals he hits because he now looks at the bigger picture.

“I will probably have been three years old when Ravanelli was here doing that,” said Bamford. “I remember Ravanelli at Derby rather than here at Middlesbrough. That was after. It’s always nice to be in amongst people like that on the goalscoring charts. For me now I just have to get over 20.

“But I was saying to a few of my friends recently, since I have come here my mindset has been changed dramatically by Aitor.

“He has made it so clear that it is all about the team. I’m not saying I was purely selfish before but I took a lot of pride in my own performance before the team when I was at Derby or wherever. I would be really miffed if I didn’t score, even if the team won in those days.

“I still get that sense of disappointment if I don’t score, but as long as the team are winning I am happy. Aitor has made me a better man – and a better player - in that respect.”

Despite his new approach to playing football, Bamford was still not giving up the ball when he had a petulant spat with Kike in stoppage-time against Rotherham.

Kike had earned a spot-kick when he was fouled by Lee Frecklington in the area and the Spaniard demanded to take it. In the end he was persuaded to stand down and leave it for Bamford, who had stood his ground and refused to hand over the responsibility.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved Bamford’s penalty, otherwise he would have overtaken Ravanelli’s tally before the remaining four games starting with Wolves’ visit to Teesside tomorrow night.

Bamford explained: “Kike was upset afterwards and I did feel like I had to say something to him. It was one of those things. Looking back I could have said ‘here, Kike you have it’. I was selfish in that respect because I have always been a penalty taker growing up so there was no way I was going to give it up. I was designated as well.

“Sometimes you miss them. If I get another on Tuesday I will be happy to take one again, provided the gaffer doesn’t take me off them.

“We know before the game who is the designated penalty taker and that was me. Grant Leadbitter was not on the pitch. It was me. It is all sorted now. If I had scored then it would have been fine.

“I have apologised to Kike but the keeper made a good save. It was one of those things. You are going to miss some. I felt bad after because I missed. It’s all sorted now.”

Middlesbrough still secured the points courtesy of Lee Tomlin’s well-drilled finish and Bamford’s cool strike, but the victory did not see them return to an automatic promotion spot. Bournemouth, Norwich and Watford all won, so Boro remain fourth ahead of tomorrow’s game with Wolves.

If Middlesbrough can claim another home win then that will set up Friday’s trip to second-placed Norwich perfectly. Bamford said: “We have to pick up our performance a bit for those two games. If we can get three points on Tuesday, that sets us up for Norwich.

“We have to do what we can. Honestly I think a team will slip up at this stage. That’s what happens. You saw on Friday, Bournemouth had a bit of brilliance and Tommo did it for us here. We have to concentrate on four wins out of four and if we do that we will have a great chance.

Spanish defender Daniel Ayala made a solid return to action against Rotherham after a thigh problem. He was withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining, raising fears he had suffered a recurrence.

But Karanka said: “I hope Daniel will be fit for the last four games, we took him off as a precaution. We can't take any risks with the players because we've got four important games to come.”