MATT Mills wasn’t about to let a few boos give him the baby blues on Saturday.

The Wanderers defender was targeted from his first touch of the ball by Reading fans who are still upset at his decision to leave for Leicester City three-and-a-half years ago.

But the acting skipper – who became a dad for the first time on Friday – drew effusive praise from his manager for a resolute performance at the back.

“I don’t think he got much sleep on Thursday night,” Neil Lennon explained. “But Matt travelled down here with his dad on Friday, said he was okay to play and I think he was outstanding.

“His defensive positioning, his aggression in the air and his passing were magnificent. So he is in a good place.”

Wanderers may well consider reopening their matchday crèche for players after Andy Lonergan and David Wheater heard the patter of tiny feet in the last few months.

Mills joined the club in the early hours of Friday morning when his wife Jade gave birth to baby Lyla, the centre-half later describing his week as the “best of my life.”

And while the Royals fans did their level best to put him off his stride, Lennon was delighted with the way Mills held his former club at bay.

“He didn't let anything affect him,” he said. “I thought he was faultless from first minute to last.

“He is starting to show the quality that made him a big money move to Leicester and the reason why he was bought to Bolton.

“Since we came in there have been some really consistent performances and he has been one of them.”

Wanderers are now five games unbeaten, moving into 17th place in the Championship table.

They were forced to work hard for a point in an even game, their two best chances of taking all three points falling to defender Tim Ream.

And though Lennon was pleased with the performance overall, he admitted to a tinge of disappointment at the fact his side had not tested Reading keeper Adam Federici more often.

“I thought we played well, especially in the first half and in the second half on the counter attack we were very dangerous,” he said.

“I am frustrated we didn't score because we deserved a goal for all our good play in the game.

“They were a threat from set pieces but in the main we did okay. I am satisfied but not ecstatic.

“For all our good play we didn't work the goalkeeper anywhere near enough. We flashed two or three great balls and I just need someone on the end of it to tap it in.”

Lennon also confirmed after the game his striker Craig Davies had to be withdrawn in the second half after feeling tightness in his hamstring.

That gave Conor Wilkinson a chance from the bench to make his first league appearance for the Whites.

“Conor came on and did very well,” Lennon added. “He worked hard.”