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

Before their trip to Forest, Man Utd had gained just eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had failed to secure a single point from the past six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal snatched a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a controversial opening period opener, Manchester United were in serious trouble.

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

Had that match occurred last season, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The response was equally emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational first-time volley from just outside the box nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the season that Manchester United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

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

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Today is a distinct feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a big team occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and the winger likely contributed.

The attacker is not one to shy away from difficult situations, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an rival any rest.

The coach was questioned exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from saying the self-belief gained from the prior three successive wins, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, of course, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a different assurance. We understand each other more effectively. We talk more about this.

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

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we played the encounter. Now, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their roles in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fit into that bracket. The forward has managed less than two full games from his four top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League match so far and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United sought a way back into a contest they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to stop the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not sanction a deal. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned long before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than any eager to leave player would like.

"It is the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when asked directly about the forward and the midfielder. "They know it's just a moment.

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