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When you cannot win, don't lose - so the old saying goes.

Before their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had earned just eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six games when they were losing since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a disputed opening period opener, Manchester United were facing defeat.

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

Had that match happened the previous campaign, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The response was equally decisive.

"Absolutely, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a sensational volleyed strike from near the edge of the box late in the game to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the beginning of the campaign that United are playing better this term. Since the beginning of October, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

The resolve, 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 short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Today is a different feeling. It's evident we could not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the addition of Matheus Cunha and the winger likely contributed.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the crest on his kit.

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

The coach was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is completely different," he stated. "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 difficult periods but then, we produce three strong performances.

"It's essential to be inside the game until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we performed in the encounter. Now, the impression was different."

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their futures in Amorim's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at danger of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that category. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his four top-flight substitute appearances this season. For the young player, the number is 138 from seven.

Not one has started a league game this season and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team sought a way back into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to join the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but United would not approve a deal. The striker was coming back from a fitness issue 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 Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of December, a period which includes a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of squad changes not previously needed.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the pair are expected to be back long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which may mean a later outcome than any eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the demands of the sport," commented Amorim, when questioned directly about the forward and the midfielder. "The players understand it's temporary.

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