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If you can't win, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Prior to their visit to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained only 8 points from losing positions with Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal snatched a tie.

When they went down at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

Had that match happened the previous campaign, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was equally emphatic.

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

We can never know the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational volleyed strike 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 United are performing at a higher level this season. 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 match, Amorim believed his squad demonstrated they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we might not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they felt 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 opponent any rest.

Amorim was asked precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from saying the self-belief generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely different," he stated. "Following three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We talk increased about these aspects.

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

"We just need to remain inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we played the encounter. Today, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was also a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his pre-match press conference, the coach stated it was possible members of the squad who think they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his four top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a league game this season and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team sought a way back into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to break something," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the players 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 transfer. The striker was coming back from injury but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a time which includes a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the final is on 18 January, the pair should be back long before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than any eager to leave player would prefer.

"It is the demands of the game," said the coach, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's temporary.

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