MIDO last night admitted that he had been fully aware of the terrorist taunts that were hurled in his direction during Sunday's Tees-Tyne derby at the Riverside, but the Middlesbrough striker has claimed that the anti-Islamic chanting only made him more determined to score in front of the Newcastle fans responsible.

An isolated group of Newcastle supporters branded Mido a 'bomber' during the first half of Sunday's game, and the taunting grew more intense after the Egypt international was booked for over-celebration in the wake of his 28th-minute equaliser.

Mido grew accustomed to such insults during his time at Tottenham, when West Ham supporters infamously likened him to failed shoe bomber Richard Reid.

But while the 24-year-old admits that he knew exactly what the visiting supporters were singing at him at the weekend, he insists that their actions misfired when they spurred him to even greater efforts on the pitch.

"I am used to it from opposition fans," said the African, who has now scored two goals in two games since joining Middlesbrough in a £6m move from Tottenham earlier this month. "I just think it was ridiculous.

"It made me want to score more goals. I was very delighted to have scored once and I wanted another. But I heard it. It was very clear and I understood what they were saying."

While Mido was booked for putting his fingers to his lips in front of the travelling supporters as he celebrated his first-half goal, his restraint in the face of intense provocation was commendable.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate contrasted the striker's behaviour, for which he was punished, with the actions of a section of Newcastle supporters, which passed without censorship.

A number of continental clubs have been fined after their supporters were found guilty of singing racist chants, but while Mido was aware of the anti-Arab sentiment at the heart of some of Sunday's songs, he feels that alcohol rather than prejudice could explain much of what happened.

When asked whether or not he was offended by what he heard, Mido replied: "Well, I don't know. I just think they were taking the mickey. Maybe some of them were drunk or something, I don't know.

"The thing that I really don't understand is why I got booked. I was told it was for security reasons, but I don't see how that is possible.

"I don't see what I did which would affect the security of the fans. I just put my finger to my mouth to tell them to be quiet."

Sunday's unsavoury singing took the gloss off an otherwise enthralling derby in which Middlesbrough underlined their battling qualities to twice come back from a one-goal deficit.

Mido's neat finish cancelled out Charles N'Zogbia's superb opener, while Julio Arca's half-volley followed hot on the heels of Mark Viduka's seemingly inevitable strike on his first return to the Riverside.

With his willingness to pull out to the flanks, Mido already appears a valuable attacking asset as Southgate attempts to introduce a more mobile and energetic playing style.

And with his determined and committed attitude, the Egyptian is a fitting figurehead for a Middlesbrough side that are determined to shed the soft underbelly that plagued them on a number of occasions last season