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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Before their visit to Forest, Manchester United had gained just 8 points from losing positions under their manager. They had not got any from the past six matches when they found themselves behind since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after conceding twice in a short span, as Forest overturned a disputed opening period goal, United were staring down the barrel.

The question to Amorim after his side fought back to draw could not have been any clearer.

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

The response was equally decisive.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the campaign that United are performing at a higher level this term. Since the start of October, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

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

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Now is a distinct sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a major club sometimes has to have."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a player who will not give an rival any rest.

Amorim was questioned exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from saying the confidence gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely changed," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound assurance. We understand each other better. We communicate more about this.

"We proved this year we can have bad moments but suddenly, we have three good games.

"It's essential to remain inside the game until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we played the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Lingers Over Futures of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when United showed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo even more unsure of their futures in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, Amorim said it was possible players who believe they are at risk of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For the young player, the total is over two hours from 7.

Not one has started a league match so far and neither 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 50th minute.

"We have a lot of talent on the bench but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was not to change anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but United would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is now considering the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a time which features a few midweek games which will require a degree of rotation unseen before.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the duo should be returned well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which could result in a delayed resolution than any eager to leave player would like.

"It is the demands of the sport," said Amorim, when asked specifically about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's just a moment.

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