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When you cannot triumph, avoid defeat - so the old saying goes.

Prior to their trip to Forest, Man Utd had gained only eight points from deficit situations under Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they were losing since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal secured a draw.

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

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

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

The response was equally emphatic.

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

It's impossible to determine the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach picks him at wing-back by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a point.

It's been clear since the start of the season that United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of October, they have additionally been getting better results.

The resolve, the will, the unwillingness to surrender are intangibles.

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

"In the past, if we had such a poor five minutes and we conceded two goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Now is a different feeling. You can sense we could not triumph in this game but we are determined not to be defeated. And this represents a feeling a major club occasionally must possess."

The manager didn't say it, but the signing of Matheus Cunha and the winger must have helped.

Cunha is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary in fact. 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 shorts.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a player who will not give an opponent a moment's peace.

The coach was questioned exactly what had caused the mental improvement. Beyond mentioning the self-belief gained from the previous three successive wins, he didn't provide an answer.

"The confidence, naturally, is completely changed," he said. "Following three positive performances and we have a different confidence. The players comprehend one another more effectively. We talk increased about these aspects.

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

"It's essential to be inside the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have collapsed completely based on how we played the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of Zirkzee and Mainoo

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

In his before the game media briefing, the coach said it was possible players who think they are at danger of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the winter signing period.

It is fair to assume the striker and Mainoo fit into that bracket. Zirkzee has accumulated 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight cameo roles in the current campaign. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from 7.

Not one has begun a Premier League match so far and neither were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as the team chased a route to recovery into a game they were losing from the second half.

"Our squad includes a great deal of talent on the substitutes but sometimes I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game all the time, I'm going to break something," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better 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 the Italian club in the last days of the transfer period but United would not approve a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from injury but is now open to the possibility of a return to Italy.

The situation is complicated by the loss of Mbeumo and the wing-back to the continental tournament in the midst of December, a period which includes a few weekday matches which will require a degree of squad changes unseen before.

Since the championship match is on January 18th, the duo are expected to be returned well before the signing period ends on February 2nd - which may mean a delayed resolution than what eager to leave player would like.

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

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