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

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned merely eight points from deficit situations with Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal snatched a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial opening period goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

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

The response was just as forceful.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why Amorim picks him at wing-back by scoring a brilliant volleyed strike from just outside the box nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of October, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this game, Amorim believed his squad showed they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Now is a distinct feeling. It's evident we might not win the match but we are not going to lose. And this represents a mindset a big team occasionally has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, on the contrary in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond saying the self-belief generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely different," he said. "Following three good games and we have a newfound confidence. We understand one another more effectively. We communicate more about this.

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

"It's essential to be engaged in the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the encounter. Now, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their futures in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a league match this season and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team sought a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to join the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a couple of midweek games which will demand a level of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the final is on January 18th, the pair should be back long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than any wantaway individual would like.

"It is the demands of the game," commented Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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