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

Prior to their trip to Forest, Manchester United had earned just eight points from losing positions with Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they trailed since the match to Bournemouth last April, when a late effort snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The question to the manager after his side recovered to tie could not have been more direct.

Had that match happened last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The response was just as emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach selects him at wing-back by flashing home a spectacular volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

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

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

In this game, the manager felt his squad showed they have improved at that too.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct sensation. It's evident we could not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

The forward is a constant threat, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from saying the confidence gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally different," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. We understand one another better. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can have difficult periods but suddenly, we have three good games.

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Now, the feeling was different."

Doubt Lingers Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when United showed their resilience, it was additionally a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their roles in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach said it was likely players who believe they are at danger of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from seven.

Not one has begun a Premier League match so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team 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 sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was not to change anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to join Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is currently considering the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a time which features a couple of midweek games which will demand a level of rotation unseen before.

Since the final is on January 18th, the duo should be returned well before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed outcome than what eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," said Amorim, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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