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If you can't triumph, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their journey to Forest, Manchester United had gained just 8 points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got any from the previous six matches when they trailed since the match to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort secured a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a controversial opening period goal, United were in serious trouble.

The question to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been more straightforward.

Had that match occurred last season, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was equally forceful.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player showed why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a point.

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

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

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," said the coach. "Today is a different sensation. It's evident we might not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a big team occasionally must possess."

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

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a footballer who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was asked exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond saying the self-belief gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand one another better. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We demonstrated this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to be engaged in the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the game. Today, the impression was different."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a day when United displayed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly uncertain of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach stated it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the winter transfer window.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fit into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the total is over two hours from seven.

Not one has begun a Premier League match so far and nor were they asked to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team sought a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal 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," said Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my feeling was not to change the setup with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not approve a deal. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is now open to the possibility of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a time which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a level of rotation not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the duo should be back well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which may mean a later outcome than any eager to leave player would like.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when questioned directly about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "The players understand it's just a moment.

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