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If you can't win, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured just eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious opening period goal, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

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

'If that game happened the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was just as decisive.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach selects him at wing-back by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the box nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the season that Manchester United are playing better this season. Since the start of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

The determination, the will, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

In this game, Amorim felt his players demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

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

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

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

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely different," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound confidence. We understand one another more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this season we can experience bad moments but then, we produce three strong performances.

"It's essential to be engaged in the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the encounter. Now, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a day when United displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach stated it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of not making the World Cup will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

Neither has started a league match so far and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United chased a way back into a contest they were losing 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 game all the time, I'm going to break something," explained the manager. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change anything with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a deal in place to join Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but United would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is now considering the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a time which includes a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the duo should be returned long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than what eager to leave player would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

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