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When you cannot win, don't lose - according to traditional wisdom.

Before their trip to Forest, Manchester United had secured just eight points from losing positions under Ruben Amorim. They had not got a single point from the previous six games when they were losing since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a draw.

When they went down at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a disputed opening period goal, United were facing defeat.

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

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

The response was equally decisive.

"Yes, and by more goals, that is my feeling."

We can never know the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach selects him at defensive wing by flashing home a sensational first-time volley from just outside the box late in the game to earn a point.

It has been obvious since the start of the season that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the start of October, they have also been getting better results.

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

In this game, Amorim felt his squad demonstrated they have improved at that too.

"In the past, if we had such a poor five minutes and we suffered a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," said Amorim. "Now is a different sensation. It's evident we could not win this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And that is a feeling a major club sometimes has to have."

The manager didn't say it, but the arrival of the Brazilian forward and the winger likely contributed.

Cunha is not the type to retreat from difficult situations, quite the reverse indeed. In the first half, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he responded - instead of ignoring them - pointing to the crest on his kit.

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

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Apart from mentioning the confidence gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't really give an answer.

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

"We proved this year we can experience bad moments but suddenly, we produce three good games.

"We just need to remain inside the match until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we played the game. Today, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of Zirkzee and the midfielder

While this represented a occasion 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 Amorim's new-look squad.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim said it was likely players who think they are at danger of not making the international tournament will ask to leave in the January signing period.

One can reasonably conclude Zirkzee and the midfielder fall into that category. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his 4 Premier League cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from 7.

Not one has begun a league match so far and nor were they asked to be substituted on at the stadium, as United sought a route to recovery into a game they were trailing in 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 the rhythm," said Amorim. "We were improving during the second half, so my instinct was not to change anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a deal in place to move to Napoli in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not approve a transfer. The striker was returning from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Serie A.

The situation is made more complex by the absence of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the Africa Cup of Nations in the midst of the winter, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will demand a degree of rotation not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be returned long before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed outcome than what eager to leave individual would like.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when asked specifically about the forward and Mainoo. "The players understand it's temporary.

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