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When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had gained only 8 points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious opening period goal, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

The question to Amorim after his side fought back to tie could not have been more straightforward.

Had that match happened the previous campaign, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The response was equally forceful.

"Yes, and by more goals, in my opinion."

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach selects him at wing-back by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to earn a point.

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

The resolve, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

In this match, Amorim believed his players showed they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Now is a distinct feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a big team occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his kit.

The forward is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will not give an rival any rest.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from saying the confidence generated from the previous three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally different," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can have difficult periods but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"We just need to remain engaged in the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the encounter. Today, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Regarding Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more unsure of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from 7.

Not one has begun a league game this season and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United chased a way back into a game they were losing from the second half.

"We have a lot of talent on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to join the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea 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 midst of December, a time which features a few midweek games which will demand a level of rotation not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the duo should be back well before the signing period ends on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than any eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the demands of the game," commented Amorim, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's just a moment.

"It's nothing to do with ability - and we have a lot of games."