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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained merely 8 points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late goal secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious first-half goal, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

'If that game occurred the previous campaign, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was just as forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to secure 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 achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, Amorim felt his players showed they have got better at that too.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad short period and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct sensation. You can sense we might not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a big team occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and the winger likely contributed.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he said. "Following three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We communicate more about this.

"We proved this year we can experience bad moments but then, we produce three good games.

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

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their roles in the manager's new-look squad.

In his before the game press conference, the coach said it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at risk of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fall into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances this season. For the young player, the number is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a league match this season and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United chased a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the second half.

"We have a great deal of talent on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in progress to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a period which features a couple of midweek games which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the final is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be back long before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what eager to leave individual would like.

"It is the characteristics of the game," commented the coach, when asked directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

"It's nothing to do with quality - and we have a many fixtures."