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

Prior to their trip to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had earned merely eight points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they went down at the stadium after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious first-half goal, United were in serious trouble.

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

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

The answer was equally emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from just outside the box late in the game to secure a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that Manchester United are playing better this season. Since the beginning of autumn, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this game, Amorim believed his squad demonstrated they have got better at that too.

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

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

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

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

The coach was asked exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from saying the self-belief gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate increased about this.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we played the game. Today, the feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their roles in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at risk of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the winter transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is 138 from 7.

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

"We have a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break something," said Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change anything with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in progress to move to Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but the club would not sanction a deal. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is now considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will demand a level of rotation not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the duo should be returned well before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a later resolution than what eager to leave player would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

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