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When you cannot win, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Prior to their trip to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured only eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had not got a single point from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side fought back to tie could not have been more straightforward.

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

The answer was equally emphatic.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that the young player showed why Amorim selects him at wing-back by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

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

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Now is a distinct sensation. It's evident we might not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a big team occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a player who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was asked exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Beyond saying the confidence gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally different," he stated. "Following 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 experience bad moments but suddenly, we produce three good games.

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the game. Now, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach stated it was likely players who think they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fall into that bracket. Zirkzee has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from seven.

Not one has started a Premier League game so far and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team sought a way back into a game they were trailing in from the second half.

"We have a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in attack."

Mainoo had a agreement in place to join Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is now open to the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation unseen before.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be returned well before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed outcome than any wantaway individual would prefer.

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

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a lot of games."