A team of 11, expertly switching – in perfect formation – from one end of the pitch to the other.

Not West Ham, and not Chelsea either, although both teams showed glimpses of promise at the London stadium during last weekend’s 1-1 draw. 

I’m talking about a flock of pigeons having a lunchtime peck on the pitch. Oblivious to the footballers and the boisterous banter between rival supporters, the birds moved expertly from box to box. 

As managers Graham Potter and David Moyes watched from their technical areas, the birds took flight and landed together in a display of coordinated movement that looked like a well-rehearsed exercise at the training ground. 

Chelsea’s transfer-window influx of newcomers are gradually settling into the team, and bossed the first half. But a slew of substitutions on 67 minutes saw the pendulum swing the way of the Irons, who finished the stronger side and had a late ‘winner’ ruled out by VAR. 

The lively Joao Felix, last spotted at Craven Cottage when his debut for the Blues was cut short by a red card, opened the scoring for Chelsea after 16 minutes as Enzo Fernandez’ through ball was steered past Lukasz Fabianski. 

Chelsea had two other ‘goals’ ruled out by the offside flag and VAR before ex-Blue Emerson equalised. 

In the second half, the pigeons had more time to graze as much of the game was limited to a narrow corridor in the centre of the pitch. 

After Chelsea’s midweek Champions League jaunt to Germany, the action returns to Stamford Bridge this weekend, and the visit of a Southampton side fighting for Premier League survival. 

Will the Saints bring their own pigeons, or share west London’s? Such a shame Gavin Peacock’s no longer on the wing. He’d have fitted right in.