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If you can't win, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had earned merely eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six matches when they trailed since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a disputed first-half opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

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

The response was equally forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. 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 box late in the game to secure a draw.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this match, the manager believed his players demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Today is a different sensation. It's evident we might not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and the winger likely contributed.

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

The coach was asked exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from saying the self-belief generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally different," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We talk more about this.

"We proved this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we have three good games.

"We just need to be inside the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we played the encounter. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fall into that bracket. The forward has managed less than two full games from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League match this season and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team chased a way back into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of talent on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to join Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not sanction a deal. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is now open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances 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 features a couple of midweek games which will require a degree of rotation unseen before.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the pair should be returned well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a later resolution than any wantaway individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the game," commented Amorim, when asked directly about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

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