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When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured only eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal secured a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a contentious opening period opener, United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The answer was just as emphatic.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from just outside the box nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the beginning of October, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

The resolve, the desire, the refusal to give in are unquantifiables.

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

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Today is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a big team sometimes has to have."

The manager didn't say it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from saying the confidence gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely different," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a different confidence. We understand each other better. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this year we can have bad moments but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"It's essential to be engaged in the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we played the game. Today, the feeling was different."

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was possible players who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from seven.

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 trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to join Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which includes a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the final is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be back long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than any wantaway individual would like.

"It is the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when asked directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's just a moment.

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