De Vos: We'll be ready for season

IPSWICH star Jason De Vos today wiped away the disappointment of another pre-season defeat to assure fans: “We'll be ready for the real thing.”

Town have lost their last four warm-up fixtures, last night's 2-1 home defeat by Atletico Madrid following a double setback in Hungary and the 2-0 loss to Scottish champions Rangers at Portman Road 11 days ago.

But the big Canadian urged supporters not to feel too despondent about the run of defeats that have followed convincing wins at Conference and League two opponents Cambridge and Boston United.

De Vos said: “Atletico are a top side, a team full of internationals and way better than any of the sides we are going to meet in the new season.

“We defended very well as a team in the first half. We were very compact and kept a good line. They didn't find it easy against us.

“Their first goal should never have stood. There was a foul on the half-way line by Petrov on Sito but it wasn't given and we were punished.”

De Vos, 31, accepts it is a big ask of a depleted squad to improve on last year's showing, when they were beaten by West Ham in the play-offs.

But he said: “We don't want a repeat of last season. We finished third and it was a bitter pill to swallow.

“It took us all a long time to get over the disappointment of not going up automatically and then going out in the play-offs after we had put ourselves into such a strong position at the top for a while.

“It is a real challenge to go one better and finish in the top two, but that has to be our target.”

De Vos was limping at the end of a demanding 90 minutes and explained: “I rolled my ankle when they scored their second goal. I think somebody gave me a push and I was off balance.

“But I don't think it's anything to get too concerned about. If I'm not fit for our last friendly at Colchester on Tuesday I am sure I will be fine for the Cardiff game in a week's time.

“All the lads will be ready and raring to go for that one - that's a promise!”