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

Prior to their visit to Nottingham Forest, Manchester United had secured only 8 points from deficit situations under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the previous six matches when they trailed since the trip to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute goal secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest reversed a contentious first-half goal, United were in serious trouble.

The question to Amorim after his side fought back to draw could not have been more straightforward.

Had that match happened last season, do you believe you would have lost it?'

The answer was equally decisive.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim selects him at wing-back by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from just outside the penalty area late in the game to earn a point.

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

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

In this game, Amorim believed his players showed they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a different sensation. You can sense we could not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a big team occasionally has to have."

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

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, actually the opposite indeed. In the opening period, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely different," he stated. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. We understand each other better. We talk more about these aspects.

"We proved this season we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce three good games.

"It's essential to be inside the match until the last moments. Previously, we could have collapsed completely the way we performed in the encounter. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a day when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their roles in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach said it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at risk of not making the World Cup will ask to leave in the winter transfer window.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his 4 top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

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

"We have a great deal of quality on the bench but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," explained Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the players in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to join the Italian club in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not approve a transfer. The striker was coming back from injury but is now considering the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is complicated by the absence of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the middle of December, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation unseen before.

As the final is on January 18th, the pair should be returned long before the transfer window ends on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than what wantaway player would prefer.

"It is the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when asked directly about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's only a phase.

"It's nothing to do with ability - and we have a lot of games."