NEW defender Drissa Diallo enjoyed a memorable full debut for Ipswich and then fired a warning to their Division One rivals: "We will get better."A last-gasp penalty scored by Tommy Miller, in the fourth minute of time-added-on, earned the Blues a draw after Steve Sidwell had given Reading the lead.

NEW defender Drissa Diallo enjoyed a memorable full debut for Ipswich and then fired a warning to their Division One rivals: "We will get better."

A last-gasp penalty scored by Tommy Miller, in the fourth minute of time-added-on, earned the Blues a draw after Steve Sidwell had given Reading the lead.

The Royals also went down to 10-men when Nicky Shorey was dismissed by the referee, who had booked Diallo just 15 seconds into his league bow for Town. It is an unfortunate record for Diallo to collect as the quickest booking ever for a Town player on his debut.

The Guinea international might have spent the rest of the game walking on eggshells after the caution for pulling down Scott Murray but it hardly showed as he played a dominant role in Town's new-look defence.

Diallo said: "I didn't deserve to be booked, it was a nothing tackle. I had to be very careful for the rest of the match but I just made sure I didn't do any stupid fouls and tried not to let it affect my game."

Town were later punished for their one defensive lapse but Diallo was impressed with how his team-mates coped with Reading, who reached the play-offs last season.

He said: "It was a shame that the striker was able to get behind us after one mistake.

"Even then it was quite a lucky goal because when the ball was centred it was deflected back to Sidwell and he was able to score."

The free signing from Burnley believes the late penalty for a Steve Brown trip on Jim Magilton was justice for the Blues as Tommy Miller equalised.

Diallo said: "After the way we had played we deserved at least to draw. I'm confident we can be better than we were on Saturday and the supporters will see there is a lot more to come from us.

"First games of the season are always a little bit different, they are always that little bit more special, especially when it is your debut. And quite often they throw up funny results – look at West Bromwich Albion losing 4-1 to Walsall. We will all settle down and this team will do well this season."

Diallo recovered from an injured ankle he picked up in training to play against Reading on Saturday and is sure to be fit to play against Kidderminster Harriers on Wednesday. Meanwhile, there is a slight concern over Tommy Miller's sore back and an ankle injury to Jim Magilton but Blues boss Joe Royle is expected to make some changes to his team anyway for the Carling Cup tie.