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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had earned only 8 points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they trailed since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal secured a tie.

When they were behind at the stadium after conceding twice in a short span, as Forest reversed a disputed first-half goal, United were in serious trouble.

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

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

The response was equally emphatic.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, in my opinion."

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that the young player showed why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this match, the manager felt his players demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a poor five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Now is a different feeling. You can sense we might not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a big team occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the arrival of Matheus Cunha and the winger likely contributed.

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, 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 responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

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

Amorim was questioned exactly what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the confidence generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally different," he said. "Following three good games and we have a different assurance. We understand one another better. We talk more about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this season we can have bad moments but then, we have three strong performances.

"It's essential to remain inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we played the game. Now, the feeling was different."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and Mainoo

If this was a day when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was likely players who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fall into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is 138 from 7.

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

"We have a lot of quality on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game constantly, I'm going to break 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."

The midfielder had a deal in place to move to the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but United would not sanction a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is now open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will require a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the final is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be returned long before the transfer window closes on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed outcome than any wantaway player would like.

"This is about the demands of the game," commented the coach, when asked specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

"It isn't related to ability - and we have a lot of fixtures."