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

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had gained only eight points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the past six matches when they trailed since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious opening period opener, United were in serious trouble.

The inquiry to the manager after his side fought back to draw could not have been any clearer.

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

The response was just as forceful.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, I believe so."

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach selects him at wing-back by scoring a sensational first-time volley from just outside the box late in the game to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the start of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this game, Amorim felt his players showed they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. It's evident we could not triumph in 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 arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, actually the opposite indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a player who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally different," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate more about this.

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

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

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when United showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach said it was likely players who believe they are at risk of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four top-flight substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from 7.

Neither has begun a Premier League match this season and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United chased a way back into a contest they were trailing in 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," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the players in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to join Napoli in the last days of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is now open to the possibility of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which features a few midweek games which will require a level of squad changes unseen before.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the duo should be back well before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than what eager to leave player would like.

"It is the demands of the game," said Amorim, when asked directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's just a moment.

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