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

Prior to their trip to Forest, Manchester United had earned only eight points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the past six games when they trailed since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they went down at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest reversed a disputed opening period goal, United were staring down the barrel.

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

Had that match happened last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was just as decisive.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, I believe so."

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a point.

It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that United are playing better this season. Since the start of autumn, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, Amorim felt his squad showed they have got better 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. "Now is a different feeling. You can sense we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

The manager didn't mention it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

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

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a player who will not give an rival any rest.

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

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. We understand each other more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

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

"It's essential to be engaged in the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Today, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when United displayed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their futures in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at risk of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the winter signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four top-flight cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from seven.

Not one has begun a league match so far and neither were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as United sought a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to move to Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which features a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of squad changes unseen before.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be back well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed outcome than what eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's just a moment.

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