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If you can't win, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their journey to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had earned just eight points from deficit situations under their manager. They had not got a single point from the previous six games when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal secured a draw.

When they were behind at the City Ground after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial first-half opener, United were in serious trouble.

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

'If that game happened the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The response was equally emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that the young player showed why the coach selects him at wing-back by scoring a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the box nine minutes from time to earn a draw.

It has been obvious since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the beginning of autumn, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, Amorim believed his squad showed they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a poor short period and we suffered two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. It's evident we could not win this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team sometimes must possess."

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

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the epitome of a player who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from saying the self-belief generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is totally changed," he said. "Following three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We communicate increased about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can experience 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 performed in the game. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a day when the team showed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more unsure of their roles in the manager's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at risk of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his four Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For the young player, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has started a Premier League match so far and neither were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team chased a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a lot of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," explained the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change anything with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue but is currently open to the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a time which features a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of squad changes unseen before.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than any wantaway individual would like.

"It is the demands of the game," commented Amorim, when questioned specifically about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's only a phase.

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