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If you can't triumph, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their trip to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured just 8 points from deficit situations with their manager. They had not got any from the past six matches when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a contentious opening period goal, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The response was equally decisive.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim selects him at wing-back by flashing home a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to secure a point.

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

The resolve, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Today is a different sensation. It's evident we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival any rest.

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

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We talk increased about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can have difficult periods but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

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

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match press conference, the coach stated it was possible players who think they are at danger of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fall into that bracket. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League cameo roles this season. For the young player, the total is 138 from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League game so far and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a way back into a game they were losing from the second half.

"We have a great deal of talent on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow constantly, I'm going to break something," said the manager. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change anything with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but United would not approve a transfer. The striker was coming back from injury but is now open to the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the duo should be back well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a later resolution than any wantaway individual would like.

"This is about the demands of the game," commented the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

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