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If you can't win, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained just eight points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a tie.

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

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

'If that game happened last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The response was equally decisive.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the season that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the beginning of October, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, the manager believed his squad demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a different sensation. 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 has to have."

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

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a player who will never allow an rival any rest.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally changed," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a newfound confidence. We understand one another more effectively. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can have bad moments but then, we produce three good games.

"We just need to remain inside the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a day when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was also a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their roles in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at risk of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from 7.

Neither has begun a Premier League match so far and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as United sought a way back into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to join the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is now considering the possibility of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the absence of the winger and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a period which features a few midweek games which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the final is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be returned well before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed outcome than any eager to leave player would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the game," commented the coach, when asked directly about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

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