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When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - as the proverb states.

Before their journey to Forest, Manchester United had gained merely eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six matches when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal secured a draw.

When they found themselves trailing at the stadium after letting in twice in a short span, as Forest reversed a disputed first-half opener, United were staring down the barrel.

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

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

The response was just as decisive.

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

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that the young player showed why the coach picks him at defensive wing by scoring a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a point.

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

The determination, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

In this game, the manager believed his squad showed they have improved at that as well.

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we suffered two goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Today is a different sensation. You can sense we could not win the match but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a mindset a big team occasionally has to have."

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

Cunha is not one to shy away from difficult situations, actually the opposite in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his kit.

The forward is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival any rest.

The coach was asked precisely what had led to the mental improvement. Beyond saying the confidence generated from the prior three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, of course, is totally changed," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound assurance. We understand one another more effectively. We talk increased about this.

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

"We just need to remain inside the game until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything based on how we played the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a day when United showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that likely created Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their roles in Amorim's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, Amorim stated it was likely players who believe they are at risk of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and the midfielder fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has managed 82 minutes from his four Premier League cameo roles this season. For the young player, the total is over two hours from 7.

Neither has begun a league game this season 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 50th minute.

"We have a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said the manager. "We were improving during the later stages, so my instinct was to avoid altering the setup with the players in front."

The midfielder had a agreement in place to move to Napoli in the final stages of the transfer period but the club would not sanction a transfer. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is currently open to the idea of a move back to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of the winger and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the middle of the winter, a period which features a few midweek games which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the duo should be back long before the signing period closes on 2 February - which could result in a later resolution than what wantaway individual would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the sport," commented the coach, when questioned directly about the forward and Mainoo. "They know it's just a moment.

"It isn't related to ability - and we have a lot of games."