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When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had secured just 8 points from deficit situations with their manager. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they were losing since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest reversed a controversial first-half goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to the manager after his side fought back to tie could not have been any clearer.

'If that game happened the previous campaign, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally forceful.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach selects him at wing-back by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the box late in the game to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the season that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.

The determination, the desire, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

In this game, the manager felt his squad showed they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Today is a distinct feeling. It's evident we could not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a major club sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a player who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the self-belief gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We talk increased about this.

"We proved this year we can experience difficult periods but suddenly, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to be engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we played the encounter. Now, the impression was different."

Doubt Lingers Regarding Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their roles in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, the coach stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is over two hours from 7.

Neither has started a league game so far and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a lot of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to break something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a time which includes a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo should be returned long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which may mean a later resolution than any wantaway player would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the sport," said Amorim, when asked directly about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's just a moment.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a lot of games."