Patrick Bamford: Middlesbrough team spirit key to league rise

Bamford has scored four goals in 11 games for Boro

Forward Patrick Bamford believes there are similarities between Middlesbrough and the Derby side he helped to the Championship play-offs last season.

Bamford, 21, is on loan at the Riverside from Chelsea, and had a similar spell with the Rams last term.

Boro are now second in the table, winning nine of 16 games, including Tuesday's 4-0 victory against Norwich.

"The big thing at Derby was the squad togetherness and it's the same here, if not better," Bamford told BBC Tees.

"It's a bigger squad but we're in it together and united as a team."

The Teessiders' win against fellow promotion hopefuls Norwich was their fourth in the last six matches, following successes at Rotherham, Brighton and at home to Fulham.

Fellow table-toppers Bournemouth provide the opposition on Saturday, with Aitor Karanka's side the hosts in the day's big Championship fixture.

"We're happy because we're winning games but it's only November," added Bamford.

"I don't think you can get carried away but we've got to enjoy it while we are winning."