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

Prior to their journey to Forest, Man Utd had secured only eight points from losing positions with their manager. They had not got any from the past six games when they trailed since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they went down at the stadium after conceding two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a controversial first-half goal, Manchester United were facing defeat.

The inquiry to Amorim after his side fought back to draw could not have been more direct.

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

The response was equally emphatic.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

We can never know the reality. However, we do know that the young player showed why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a point.

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

The determination, the will, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

In this game, the manager felt his players showed they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Today is a different feeling. You can sense we might not triumph in the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a major club sometimes must possess."

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

Cunha is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, on the contrary in fact. In the first half, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival any rest.

Amorim was asked precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from saying the confidence generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is completely different," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend each other better. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can have difficult periods but then, we have three good games.

"We just need to remain inside the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we played the game. Now, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Futures of Zirkzee and Mainoo

If this was a occasion when the team displayed 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 new-look Manchester United.

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

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles this season. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from seven.

Not one has started a Premier League game so far and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team sought a way back into a game they were losing from the second half.

"We have a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the guys in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but United would not approve a transfer. The striker was coming back from injury but is currently considering the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a period which features a few midweek games which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which could result in a delayed outcome than what wantaway individual would like.

"It is the characteristics of the sport," commented Amorim, when asked directly about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's only a phase.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a lot of fixtures."