I also breastfeed to sleep (about 70% of the time). The other times he is just tired and goes off by himself. I do a sleep, play, feed routine and sometimes he gets really drowsy on the breast and other times he actually goes off to sleep.
Re patting- you can roll up a wrap/cloth nappies and put it under his tummy to stop the rolling and then take it from the cot when asleep, or hold the shoulder, or pat the side of the thigh when he is on his back. I gave up on the patting due to me getting a sore back stooped over the cot!