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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their journey to Forest, Man Utd had earned merely eight points from deficit situations under their manager. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they trailed since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in twice in a short span, as Forest reversed a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

'If that game occurred last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The response 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 demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by flashing home a spectacular volleyed strike from just outside the box late in the game to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, Amorim felt his players showed they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we conceded a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Today is a distinct feeling. It's evident we might not win this game 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 arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

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

The coach was asked exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is completely changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate increased about these aspects.

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

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more unsure of their futures in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match press conference, the coach said it was possible players who think they are at danger of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fall into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a league game so far and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as United sought a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"We have a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but United would not approve a deal. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is now considering the possibility of a return to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a period which features a couple of midweek games which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be back long before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which may mean a later resolution than any wantaway individual would like.

"This is about the demands of the sport," said the coach, when questioned specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

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