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

Before their trip to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured merely eight points from deficit situations under their manager. They had not got any from the past six matches when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal snatched a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest overturned a contentious first-half opener, United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to the manager after his side recovered to draw could not have been any clearer.

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

The answer was just as forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a brilliant volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a draw.

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

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

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

"Previously, if we had such a bad five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we might not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an rival any rest.

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the confidence gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he said. "Following three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We talk more about this.

"We proved this season we can have bad moments but suddenly, we have three good games.

"We just need to remain inside the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more unsure of their roles in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at risk of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that category. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his four top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a league match this season and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as United chased a way back into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," explained the manager. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change anything with the players in front."

The midfielder had a deal in place to join the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is currently considering the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a time which features a couple of midweek games which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be back long before the signing period ends on 2 February - which could result in a delayed outcome than what eager to leave individual would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," said the coach, when asked specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's temporary.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a many games."