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

Prior to their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured merely eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had not got any from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal secured a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in twice in a short span, as Forest overturned a disputed first-half goal, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

The inquiry to the manager after his side recovered to draw could not have been more direct.

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

The answer was equally emphatic.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

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

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

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

In this match, the manager felt his players demonstrated they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a big team sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

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 home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

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

The coach was questioned precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the confidence gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely different," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend one another better. We talk increased about this.

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

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Today, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when United showed their resilience, it was additionally a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped 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 signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Not one has begun a league match so far and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United chased a way back into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of talent on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to move to Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is now open to the idea of a return to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of rotation unseen before.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the pair should be returned long before the signing period ends on 2 February - which could result in a later outcome than any wantaway individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's just a moment.

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