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

Prior to their journey to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained just eight points from deficit situations with their manager. They had failed to secure any from the previous six games when they were losing since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute effort snatched a tie.

When they found themselves trailing at the City Ground after conceding two goals in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious first-half goal, United were in serious trouble.

The question to Amorim after his side recovered to tie could not have been any clearer.

'If that game occurred the previous campaign, do you feel you would have lost it?'

The answer was just as decisive.

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

We can never know the reality. What we do know that the young player demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a sensational 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 beginning of autumn, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, Amorim believed his players demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had this kind of poor five minutes and we conceded 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 not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't mention it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and the winger probably made a difference.

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the local supporters for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - pointing to the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the perfect example of a footballer who will not give an opponent any rest.

Amorim was asked precisely what had led to the psychological growth. Apart from mentioning the self-belief generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely changed," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a newfound assurance. We understand one another more effectively. We talk more about this.

"We proved this year we can have bad moments but suddenly, we have three strong performances.

"It's essential to remain inside the game until the final 10 minutes. Previously, we could have lost everything the way we played the game. Today, the feeling was different."

Doubt Remains Over Prospects of the striker and Mainoo

While this represented a occasion when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a day that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their roles in the manager's new-look squad.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim stated it was likely members of the squad who believe they are at risk of not making the World Cup will ask to leave in the January signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and the midfielder fall into that category. The forward has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from 7.

Neither has started a league game so far and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team chased a route to recovery into a contest they were losing 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 flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything 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 approve a deal. The striker was returning from injury 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 Amad to the continental tournament in the midst of the winter, a period which features a couple of weekday matches which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

Since the championship match is on 18 January, the duo are expected to be returned well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which could result in a delayed outcome than any eager to leave player would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the game," said the coach, when asked specifically about the forward and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

"It isn't related to quality - and we have a lot of fixtures."