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If you can't triumph, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Prior to their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned merely eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had not got any from the past six matches when they were losing since the match to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal snatched a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial first-half goal, United were staring down the barrel.

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

Had that match occurred last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The response was just as decisive.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a sensational first-time volley from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

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

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

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Now is a different sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a big team occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

The forward is a constant threat, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an opponent any rest.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the confidence generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand one another better. We talk more about this.

"We demonstrated this year we can have bad moments but then, we have three good games.

"It's essential to be engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the game. Today, the impression was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when United showed their resilience, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their roles in the manager's new-look Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim stated it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at danger of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from seven.

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 game they were trailing in 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 disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to join Napoli in the last days of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. The striker was coming back from injury but is currently considering the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the absence of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a period which includes a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be returned well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than any wantaway individual would prefer.

"It is the demands of the game," commented the coach, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's only a phase.

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