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When you cannot win, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Before their visit to Forest, Manchester United had gained just eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the past six matches when they were losing since the match to Bournemouth last April, when a last-minute effort secured a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a couple of minutes, as Forest reversed a controversial first-half goal, United were facing defeat.

The question to the manager after his side fought back to tie could not have been more direct.

'If that game happened last season, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was equally emphatic.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, that is my feeling."

It's impossible to determine the reality. However, we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a spectacular volleyed strike from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to secure a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the season 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 unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

In this match, the manager felt his players demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a bad short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we don't recover," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct sensation. It's evident we might not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

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

The attacker is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his shorts.

The forward is a constant threat, the epitome of a footballer who will not give an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked precisely what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from saying the confidence generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely changed," he stated. "We came from three good games and we have a different confidence. We understand each other better. We talk increased about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can experience difficult periods but then, we have three strong performances.

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

Doubt Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their futures in the manager's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game media briefing, the coach said it was likely players who think they are at risk of missing the international tournament will ask to leave in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his four top-flight cameo roles this season. For the young player, the number is over two hours from 7.

Not one has started a Premier League match so far and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as the team sought a way back into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to stop the game all the time, I'm going to break the rhythm," said the manager. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my instinct was not to change anything with the players 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 transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is now considering the idea of a return to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of December, a period which features a couple of midweek games which will require a level of squad changes unseen before.

Since the final is on 18 January, the duo should be back well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which may mean a later outcome than any eager to leave individual would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when asked specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

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