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If you can't triumph, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their visit to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained merely eight points from losing positions with Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the past six matches when they trailed since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a tie.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest reversed a disputed first-half opener, United were in serious trouble.

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

Had that match occurred the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why the coach selects him at wing-back by flashing home a sensational volleyed strike from just outside the box nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the start 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 resolve, the will, the refusal to give in are intangibles.

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

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said the coach. "Now is a distinct feeling. You can sense we could not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a major club occasionally must possess."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and the winger probably made a difference.

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the home fans for what they believed was his tactical play, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his kit.

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

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the self-belief generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. We understand each other more effectively. We talk increased 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 final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we played the game. Now, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Over Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team displayed their resilience, it was additionally a moment that must have left the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their futures in the manager's new-look squad.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim said it was likely players who believe they are at risk of missing the World Cup will request transfers in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fit into that category. The forward has accumulated less than two full games from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from seven.

Neither has begun a league game this season and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as United chased a way back into a contest they were trailing in from the 50th minute.

"We have a great deal of talent on the bench but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to break the rhythm," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was to avoid altering the setup with the guys in front."

The midfielder had a deal in progress to join Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but United would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was returning from a fitness issue but is currently considering the idea of a return to Italy.

The circumstances is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the middle of the winter, a period which features a couple of weekday matches which will demand a degree of squad changes unseen before.

As the final is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned well before the signing period closes on February 2nd - which may mean a later resolution than what wantaway individual would prefer.

"It is the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when asked directly about the forward and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

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