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

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured just eight points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the past six matches when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort snatched a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a disputed opening period opener, United were facing defeat.

The question to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been more straightforward.

Had that match occurred the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was just as decisive.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

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

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Today 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 signing of the Brazilian forward and the winger must have helped.

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they felt was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the self-belief generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

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

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

"It's essential to be engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we played the game. Today, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of the striker and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their roles in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his before the game press conference, the coach said it was possible players who think they are at risk of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that bracket. 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.

Neither has started a league match so far and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team chased a way back into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a time which includes a couple of midweek games which will demand a level of squad changes unseen before.

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

"It is the demands of the sport," commented Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's temporary.

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