IPSWICH Town fans, take note, it’s pie-in-the-sky to even talk about the play-offs.

Brighton boss Gus Poyet has poured cold water on any Town supporters’ dreams of gate-crashing the top six, and so making a bid for the Premier League.

The Seagulls, who entertain in-form Town on Saturday, are a mighty nine points better off than their Suffolk rivals, and only two points adrift of the top six.

Yet a plain-speaking Poyet has dismissed all hopes of his Brighton side securing a second successive promotion, even though they remain unbeaten in the Championship during 2012.

The Uruguayan’s words would seem to make a mockery of Town fans’ own faint hopes of late season glory.

“We are not ready for the Premier League,” insisted Poyet, whose Brighton side were hammered 6-1 by Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday.

“I have been very honest for the last two or three months when people talk about promotion. People thought I was being negative. Now maybe they will say I was right.

“There has been a lot of excitement because we are doing all right, but we are not ready,” added Poyet.

Ninth-placed Brighton, who sit just two points behind sixth-placed Birmingham, are in action again tomorrow night at fellow play-off contenders Hull City.

That 560-mile round trip, from the south coast to Humberside, will not be the ideal build up to Saturday’s big game against Ipswich.

Paul Jewell’s men will be gunning for a fifth win on the trot, on what will be their first visit to the Seagulls’ new Falmer Stadium.

Town have not won five games on the spin since October, 2003, when Joe Royle’s men beat Rotherham, Bradford, Burnley, Stoke and Crystal Palace on their way to a top six finish in the Championship.

n Ipswich Town Reserves’ friendly fixture against Crystal Palace this afternoon is no longer open to the public. It is now a behind-closed-doors match.