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When you cannot triumph, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their visit to Forest, Man Utd had secured only eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got a single point from the previous six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal secured a tie.

When they went down at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest overturned a controversial opening period goal, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

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

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

The response was equally emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach selects him at wing-back by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that Manchester United are playing better this season. Since the start of October, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, Amorim believed his players demonstrated they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a poor short period and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Today is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a big team sometimes must possess."

The manager didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and the winger must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an rival any rest.

The coach was asked precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from saying the self-belief gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this year we can have difficult periods but suddenly, we have three good games.

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

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when the team displayed their resilience, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their futures in the manager's new-look squad.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim said it was possible players who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his four top-flight substitute appearances this season. For the young player, the total is 138 from 7.

Neither has started a Premier League game this season and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to break something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to move to the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a return to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a couple of midweek games which will require a degree of rotation unseen before.

As the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned well before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed outcome than any wantaway individual would like.

"This is about the demands of the game," commented the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

"It's nothing to do with ability - and we have a lot of fixtures."