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

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had gained only eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the previous six matches when they trailed since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a tie.

When they went down at the stadium after conceding twice in a short span, as Forest reversed a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The question to the manager after his side fought back to tie could not have been any clearer.

'If that game happened the previous campaign, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was just as emphatic.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, I believe so."

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim picks him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the box late in the game to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, Amorim felt his squad demonstrated they have improved at that as well.

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Today is a distinct feeling. It's evident we might not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a big team sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and the winger likely contributed.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an rival any rest.

The coach was asked exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond saying the confidence generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely changed," he said. "Following three good games and we have a newfound confidence. We understand each other more effectively. We talk increased about this.

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

"It's essential to remain inside the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the game. Today, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when United showed their resilience, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their roles in the manager's new-look squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was likely players who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League game this season and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the second half.

"We have a lot of talent on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the players in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the last days of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. The striker was coming back from injury but is now open to the idea of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a time which features a couple of midweek games which will require a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

As the final is on 18 January, the duo should be back long before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which could result in a later resolution than any wantaway individual would prefer.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when asked directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

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