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When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their trip to Forest, Man Utd had earned only eight points from deficit situations under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the previous six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort secured a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after conceding twice in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious first-half goal, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The response was equally forceful.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, that is my feeling."

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that United are playing better this season. Since the start of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this match, the manager felt his players showed they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a distinct feeling. It's evident we could not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the badge on his kit.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond saying the self-belief generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. We understand one another more effectively. We talk more about this.

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

"It's essential to remain engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the encounter. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more unsure of their roles in the manager's new-look Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim stated it was possible players who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from seven.

Not one has started a league match so far and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United sought a way back into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of talent on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in progress to join the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not approve a transfer. The striker was returning from injury but is currently open to the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a period which features a few weekday matches which will require a degree of rotation unseen before.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the duo should be back well before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which could result in a later outcome than any wantaway player would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's temporary.

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