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

Prior to their visit to Forest, Manchester United had earned only eight points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side recovered to draw could not have been more straightforward.

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

The response was just as emphatic.

"Yes, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a draw.

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

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

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

"In the past, if we had such a bad five minutes and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct feeling. You can sense we might not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a big team occasionally has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, on the contrary indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

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

The coach was questioned exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief generated from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally different," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand one another more effectively. We talk increased about this.

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

"It's essential to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Now, the feeling was different."

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a day when United showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his before the game press conference, the coach stated it was possible players who think they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. 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 over two hours from seven.

Not one has started a league match so far and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team chased a way back into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was not to change the setup with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the possibility of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will demand a level of rotation unseen before.

Since the final is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be back well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a later resolution than any eager to leave player would prefer.

"It is the demands of the game," commented the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

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