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

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had earned only eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort secured a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a controversial first-half goal, United were in serious trouble.

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

Had that match occurred 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 Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant 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 campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

The determination, the desire, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

In this game, the manager believed his squad showed they have got better at that as well.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Now is a distinct sensation. It's evident we could not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the addition of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo probably made a difference.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an rival any rest.

The coach was questioned precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from saying the confidence gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely changed," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend one another better. We talk more about this.

"We demonstrated this year we can have difficult periods but suddenly, we produce three strong performances.

"We just need to remain inside the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Now, the feeling was different."

Doubt Lingers Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their roles in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at danger of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League cameo roles this season. For the young player, the total is 138 from 7.

Neither has begun a league game so far and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained the manager. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the players in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. The striker was coming back from injury but is now considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a time which features a few weekday matches which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair should be returned long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than any wantaway individual would prefer.

"It is the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when asked directly about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

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