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

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had secured merely 8 points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the past six matches when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial first-half goal, United were facing defeat.

The question to the manager after his side recovered to draw could not have been more straightforward.

'If that game occurred last season, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was equally emphatic.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, 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 penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

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

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

In this game, Amorim felt his squad demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Now is a different sensation. You can sense we might not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a feeling a big team sometimes has to have."

The manager didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an rival any rest.

The coach was asked precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the self-belief generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to remain inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was possible members of the squad who think they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that bracket. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League match this season and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team chased a way back into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a great deal of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in progress to join the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was returning from injury but is now considering the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a time which features a couple of midweek games which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair should be returned long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than any wantaway individual would like.

"It is the demands of the sport," said Amorim, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

"It isn't related to ability - and we have a lot of games."