Mounted police had to be deployed at Vicarage Road this afternoon to help disperse a large group of Queens Park Rangers fans from the pitch after their side clinched the Championship title with a 2-0 victory over Watford.

Despite requests to stay off the playing surface and warnings that any supporters who did go on to the field of play would be arrested, a number of fans from the away supporters area at the Vicarage Road end did break through the police line and managed to get on to the pitch to celebrate with manager Neil Warnock and his players.

Once the QPR staff had returned to the dressing room area, four horses were brought on to the pitch to help usher those on the pitch back to the away part of the Vicarage Road end.

Trouble had also flared earlier in the game when Rangers took the lead through Adel Taarabt. Punches were thrown in a middle section of the Rookery End, while a fan also ran onto the pitch from the Lower Rous where a large section of visiting supporters had gained entry, despite it being a home fans area.

That goal and an injury-time strike from Tommy Smith secured the points Rangers needed to confirm their return to the Premier League, although the London club will now await the outcome of next week’s FA hearing into the signing of Alejandro Faurlin in 2009.

The Loftus Road club could face a points deduction if found guilty of breaching the rules regarding alleged third party ownership of the player.