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When you cannot win, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their trip to Forest, Manchester United had secured just eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a late goal secured a tie.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest reversed a controversial first-half goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side recovered to draw could not have been more straightforward.

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

The response was just as forceful.

"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 the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a sensational first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area late in the game to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the season that United are playing better this term. Since the start of October, they have additionally been getting better results.

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

In this game, the manager felt his squad showed they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a big team sometimes must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, quite the reverse indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

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

The coach was asked exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely different," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound assurance. The players comprehend each other more effectively. We communicate increased about this.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

If this was a day when the team showed their resilience, it was also a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their roles in Amorim's new-look squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach said it was possible players who believe they are at danger of not making the World Cup will request transfers in the winter transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fall into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from 7.

Neither has started a Premier League match this season and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the stadium, as the team chased a route to recovery into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break something," explained the manager. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change the setup with the players in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in progress to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a period which includes a couple of midweek games which will demand a degree of squad changes unseen before.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be returned well before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a later outcome than what wantaway individual would prefer.

"It is the characteristics of the game," commented Amorim, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

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