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If you can't win, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned just eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a tie.

When they went down at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest overturned a controversial first-half opener, United were in serious trouble.

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

'If that game occurred last season, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was just as decisive.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant volleyed strike from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this game, the manager believed his squad demonstrated they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct feeling. You can sense we might 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 mention it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and the winger must have helped.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival any rest.

The coach was questioned exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the confidence gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely different," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend one another better. We talk increased about this.

"We proved this year we can experience bad moments but suddenly, we produce three strong performances.

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the encounter. Today, the impression was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their roles in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach said it was likely players who think they are at risk of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his four top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

Not one has begun a league match so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United chased a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a lot of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," explained the manager. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the players in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to join Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which features a couple of midweek games which will demand a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the pair should be back long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than what eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," said the coach, when asked specifically about the forward and the midfielder. "They know it's just a moment.

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