Championship defeated Premiership at Solitude last night as Jim Magilton's Ipswich Town comprehensively disposed of Cliftonville as the Reds completed their European preparations with a 7-0 hammering.

It didn't take the visitors long to find their rhythm and a Gary Roberts cross threatened to cause problems for the Reds but David McAlinden was on hand to clear the danger.

Roberts made the breakthrough just 40 seconds later though when he superbly volleyed home from 18 yards following a Jamie Peters cross from the left.

It was 2-0 on 17 minutes and Roberts was the provider this time, dinking a perfect ball over John Connolly for Republic of Ireland international Alan Lee to nod home.

That sparked a little life into Cliftonville and they almost bagged an instant response when Mark Holland's looping header threatened to deceive goalkeeper Sean Supple but he recovered in time to make a clean catch.

On 25 minutes a wicked Stephen O'Neill cross resulted in Chris Scannell shooting against the crossbar and the woodwork contrived against Cliftonville at the other end when David Haynes made use of the inside of the post to net from the tightest of angles for 3-0.

It should have been four six minutes from the break when Ipswich were awarded a penalty following a trip on Jordon Rhodes by McAlinden but after Rhodes had picked himself up he saw his spot kick saved by Connolly.

A fine challenge from Northern Ireland's Gareth McAuley prevented Chris Scannell from getting a shot at goal in what proved the last action of the first half.

The Reds thought they had reduced the arrears on 47 minutes with another looping Holland header only for an offside flag to cut the celebrations short.

After the impressive Peters had struck the bar the same player then got his name on the score sheet when he nipped inside Ronan Scannell to stroke home.

Sub Alan Quinn made it 5-0 with a rebound after Connolly had brilliantly saved from Pablo Counago and Quinn was on target again with a placed effort towards the end just before a similar conversion from David Wright completed the scoring.

CLIFTONVILLE: Connolly, Fleming, R Scannell, Catney, Donaghy, McAlinden, M Holland, O’Neill, C Scannell, Cleary, O’Connor. Subs: Smyth, Wells, Patterson, O’Hara, Boyd, B Holland, Gowdy.

IPSWICH TOWN: Supple, Peters, McAuley, Smith, Thatcher, Haynes, Sumulikoski, Trotter, Roberts, Rhodes, Lee. Subs: Casement, Bruce, Bulkestein, Wright, Miller, Garvan, Quinn, Cunago.