MATT Mills believes Wanderers have the perfect platform to build on when they return to action after the international fortnight.

The defender, who has so far been an ever-present under new boss Neil Lennon, says the confidence-boosting derby victory over Wigan Athletic sent the side into the break on a high with the added boost of seeing Wanderers stay outside the bottom three following last Saturday's results.

Mills is experienced enough to know not to get carried away just yet but he senses a mood shift in the camp under Lennon.

The 28-year-old said: "It’s a good start but that is all it is.

"We have a lot of experience in the dressing room and we know what we can do this season.

"I’ve been fortunate to be in teams that have gone on good runs from this sort of situation in the past and the atmosphere in that changing room really feels like it’s going to go places."

Mills has captained the side in Jay Spearing's absence in consecutive home victories against Cardiff and the Latics.

In the first of those games, he got on the scoresheet for his fourth goal of the campaign – doubling his previous haul of two in his Whites career.

He then went on to help Wanderers secure a third successive home victory for the first time in 18 months against Wigan.

And he felt that result was just rewards for a high-tempo derby display.

Mills added: "Wigan was a great result.

"When you win games it gets you in a position to move up the table and that was the case last Friday.

"It was a fantastic performance and a fantastic win.

"It was what we have been working towards

"Hopefully, it is just the start of many more wins to come."

The Whites head to bottom-placed Blackpool on their return from the international break on Saturday, before heading back to home soil to face Huddersfield a week later.

So far the return under Lennon has been 12 points from 18 and it has taken them out of the drop zone to 21st spot.

Mills knows there is a long way to go yet this campaign – 29 games in the Championship to be exact.

But he says by focusing on their own fortunes, they can quickly forget the poor start that saw them win just one of the first 11 matches.

Mills said: "We’ve said before that the manager highlighted that 35-game season when he came in and we’ve won four out of six games.

"From here we just need to focus on ourselves and not watch what is around us."