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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had gained only eight points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the past six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal secured a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after conceding twice in a short span, as Forest reversed a controversial first-half opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The question to Amorim after his side fought back to draw could not have been any clearer.

'If that game happened last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was just as decisive.

"Absolutely, 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 Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational first-time volley from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the season that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the start of October, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

In this game, the manager believed his players showed they have improved at that too.

"In the past, if we had such a bad five minutes and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. You can sense we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and the winger must have helped.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, actually the opposite in fact. 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 - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the epitome of a player who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from saying the self-belief generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely different," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend one another better. We talk increased about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can experience bad moments but then, we have three good games.

"It's essential to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a day when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim said it was possible members of the squad who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is over two hours from seven.

Not one has started a Premier League match this season and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team chased a way back into a game they were losing from the second half.

"We have a great deal of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was not to change the setup with the players in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to move to Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the idea of a move back to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the duo should be returned well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which could result in a later outcome than what wantaway player would like.

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

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