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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Before their journey to Forest, Manchester United had gained just eight points from losing positions with Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a late goal snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a disputed opening period opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The answer was just as forceful.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, I believe so."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the season that United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this game, Amorim believed his players demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Now is a different sensation. It's evident we might not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a big team sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse indeed. In the first half, when he was booed 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 footballer who will not give an rival any rest.

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond saying the confidence generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he said. "Following three good games and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate more about these aspects.

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

"It's essential to be inside the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we performed in the game. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Futures of the striker and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, the coach stated it was likely players who think they are at risk of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that category. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from seven.

Not one has started a Premier League match this season and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a great deal of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," explained the manager. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently open to the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the middle of the winter, a period which features a few weekday matches which will require a degree of squad changes unseen before.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the pair should be back long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed outcome than any eager to leave player would like.

"It is the demands of the game," said Amorim, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a many fixtures."