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When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their trip to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained merely eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the previous six matches when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort snatched a draw.

When they were behind at the stadium after conceding twice in a couple of minutes, as Forest overturned a disputed first-half opener, Manchester United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The response was just as forceful.

"Absolutely, and by a larger margin, I believe so."

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim selects him at wing-back by flashing home a brilliant volleyed strike from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

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

The resolve, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

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

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated Amorim. "Now is a different sensation. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't mention it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and the winger must have helped.

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, quite the reverse in fact. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the badge on his kit.

The forward is a constant threat, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had led to the mental improvement. Apart from saying the confidence gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is totally changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a different assurance. We understand each other more effectively. We talk increased about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can experience bad moments but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we performed in the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Regarding Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a moment that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo even more uncertain of their futures in Amorim's revamped squad.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said it was likely members of the squad who think they are at danger of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that bracket. The forward has managed less than two full games from his four Premier League substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from seven.

Neither has begun a Premier League game this season and nor were they called upon to come off the bench at the City Ground, as the team chased a route to recovery into a contest 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 constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join Napoli in the last days of the summer window but the club would not approve a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is now considering the idea of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a time which includes a couple of midweek games which will require a level of squad changes unseen before.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be back long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which may mean a later outcome than any wantaway player would prefer.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when asked specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's just a moment.

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