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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had secured merely 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six matches when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort snatched a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in twice in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a disputed opening period opener, United were facing defeat.

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

'If that game happened last season, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was equally decisive.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim picks him at wing-back by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to secure a point.

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

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 this kind of bad short period and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Today is a distinct sensation. It's evident we could not triumph in the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a big team occasionally must possess."

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

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a player who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was asked precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the confidence gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally different," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend one another better. We communicate increased about this.

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

"We just need to be engaged in the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the encounter. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Regarding Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when United showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim said it was possible players who think they are at danger of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from 7.

Neither has started a Premier League game so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team sought a way back into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is now open to the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the middle of December, a time which features a few midweek games which will demand a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the pair should be returned long before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a later resolution than any eager to leave individual would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the game," said the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's just a moment.

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