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When you cannot win, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained merely eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the previous six games when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal secured a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest overturned a controversial opening period opener, United were facing defeat.

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

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

The response was equally emphatic.

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

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that the young player showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the campaign that United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

The resolve, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

In this game, Amorim felt his players demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Now is a distinct feeling. It's evident we could not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

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

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond saying the self-belief generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate increased about this.

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

"We just need to be inside the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when the team displayed their resilience, it was also a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their roles in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim stated it was likely players who believe they are at danger of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his four Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League match so far and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United sought a way back into a game they were losing from the second half.

"We have a great deal of talent on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said the manager. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to the Italian club in the last days of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is currently open to the possibility of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a time which includes a few midweek games which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be back well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a later outcome than what wantaway individual would like.

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

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