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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Manchester United had gained merely eight points from deficit situations under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the previous six games when they trailed since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in twice in a short span, as Forest overturned a contentious opening period opener, United were staring down the barrel.

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

Had that match happened the previous campaign, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The response was equally decisive.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a spectacular volleyed strike from just outside the box late in the game to secure a draw.

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

The resolve, the will, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

In this game, the manager felt his players demonstrated they have improved at that as well.

"Previously, if we had such a poor five minutes and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a big team sometimes must possess."

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

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an opponent any rest.

Amorim was questioned exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from saying the self-belief gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally different," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. We understand one another more effectively. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this year we can have bad moments but suddenly, we have three good games.

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

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when United showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a league match this season and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to break the rhythm," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in place to join Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but United would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a few midweek games which will require a level of rotation not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be back long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which could result in a delayed outcome than what wantaway individual would like.

"This is about the demands of the game," said Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

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