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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had earned merely 8 points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a late effort secured a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial first-half opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The answer was equally forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that the young player showed why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a point.

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

The determination, the will, the refusal to give in are unquantifiables.

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

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Today is a distinct sensation. It's evident we might not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an opponent any rest.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from saying the confidence generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand each other better. We talk increased about these aspects.

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

"We just need to be engaged in the match until the last moments. 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 Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their futures in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach said it was possible members of the squad who think they are at danger of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fit into that bracket. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

Neither has started a league match so far and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team 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 impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to break the rhythm," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to join the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not approve 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 loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a time which features a few midweek games which will require a degree of squad changes unseen before.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be returned long before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than any wantaway player would prefer.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," said Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

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