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If you can't win, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had gained just eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure a single point from the past six games when they trailed since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a late goal secured a tie.

When they went down at the stadium after conceding two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a contentious opening period goal, United were facing defeat.

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

Had that match happened the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The response 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 Amorim selects him at wing-back by scoring a spectacular volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a point.

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

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

In this match, Amorim felt his squad showed they have improved at that as well.

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. It's evident we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and the winger must have helped.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, on the contrary indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the confidence generated from the previous three successive wins, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is totally different," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate more about this.

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

"It's essential to remain inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we played the game. Now, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a day when United displayed their resilience, it was additionally a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more unsure of their roles in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his before the game press conference, the coach stated it was possible players who think they are at risk of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fall into that bracket. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his four top-flight substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from 7.

Not one has started a league game this season and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United chased a route to recovery into a contest they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to break something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was not to change the setup with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a agreement in progress to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not sanction a transfer. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a move back to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a period which features a few midweek games which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be back well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than what eager to leave individual would prefer.

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

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