But a nerveless 81 as the shadow side defeated Andy Flower's first XI in Abu Dhabi also helped his cause.
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It gave Wigan their fourth consecutive league victory - and they did it after making seven changes from the shadow side beaten 3-1 by Spurs in the FA Cup nine days ago.
Another galling aspect of the defeat was the fact Scotland were essentially facing a shadow Welsh side.
Leicester were a shadow of the side who also won the EDF Energy Cup this term.
France were making uncharacteristic handling errors and looked a shadow of the side that attacked with such inventiveness in last week's entertaining defeat against Ireland.
Manchester United is running away with the Premier League title but looks a shadow of the side that reached the Champions League final two years ago.
In truth, Unirea looked a shadow of the side that destroyed Rangers 4-1 at Ibrox earlier in the season but did trouble their more esteemed visitors from set-pieces throughout.
Liverpool looked a shadow of the side which beat Manchester United 3-1 last Sunday as they missed captain Steven Gerrard through injury, while striker Luis Suarez was ineligible.
The Pumas are a shadow of the side that finished third in the 2007 World Cup, where they ended Scotland's hopes, and they had lost both their previous Tests this autumn, against England and Wales.
However, aside from a Cole snap-shot on the turn on the stroke of half-time, Ancelotti's men looked blunt going forward and were a shadow of the side that had plundered 14 goals in their three preious matches.
Italy were able to hang on for the win but they look a shadow of the side that defeated both Scotland and Wales in this year's Six Nations and their inability to claim a bonus point could prove costly.
For those of us with such short histories, the past is a permanent shadow, forever by our side or right behind us.
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He was speaking distantly, Todd was, watching the man but talking through him, finding his shadow somewhere on the other side of the world.
That's what led me to work in the shadow of a shuttered steel plant on the South Side of Chicago when I was a community organizer.
He was subsequently made shadow leader of the Commons by Mr Cameron and took up the role on the government side when the coalition came to power after the May 2010 general election.
With respect to the history of fighting poverty, I got my start in public service as a community organizer working in the shadow steel plants that had been closed in some of the poorest neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago.
Shadow Sport Minister Michael Matheson MSP has called on the SFA to replace him with a manager who rejuvenate the national side.
BBC: SPORT | Football | Internationals | Few tears shed as Vogts resigns
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