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If you can't triumph, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Before their trip to Forest, Man Utd had earned only 8 points from deficit situations under their manager. They had not got a single point from the previous six games when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal secured a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a disputed first-half goal, United were in serious trouble.

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

Had that match happened last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The response was equally forceful.

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

We can never know the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to secure a point.

It's been clear since the start of the season that Manchester United are playing better this season. Since the start of autumn, they have also been getting better results.

The determination, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

In this match, Amorim believed his squad demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. It's evident we might not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his kit.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

The coach was asked precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally different," he stated. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this year we can have difficult periods but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"It's essential to be engaged in the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Now, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a day when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their roles in Amorim's revamped squad.

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

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fall into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is over two hours from seven.

Not one has started a league game so far and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team chased a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to break something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not approve a transfer. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a few midweek games which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be returned long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than any wantaway individual would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when asked directly about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

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