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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their visit to Forest, Manchester United had earned just eight points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure a single point from the past six games when they were losing since the match to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal snatched a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

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

The response was just as decisive.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

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

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

In this match, Amorim believed his players demonstrated they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Now is a distinct feeling. It's evident we could not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

The manager didn't mention it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a player who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

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

"We demonstrated this year we can experience bad moments but then, we have three strong performances.

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the encounter. Today, the feeling was different."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when United displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match press conference, the coach said it was likely players who believe they are at risk of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from seven.

Not one has started a league game so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the stadium, as United sought a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently open to the idea of a return to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of the winger 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 rotation unseen before.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the pair should be returned well before the signing period ends on 2 February - which could result in a later outcome than any wantaway individual would like.

"It is the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when questioned directly about the forward and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

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