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If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their trip to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had secured just eight points from losing positions under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they trailed since the match to Bournemouth last spring, when a late goal secured a draw.

When they went down at the stadium after conceding twice in a short span, as Nottingham Forest overturned a contentious first-half opener, United were facing defeat.

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

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

The response was just as decisive.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

We can never know the reality. What we do know that Amad Diallo demonstrated why the coach picks him at defensive wing by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the box late in the game to earn a point.

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

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

In this match, Amorim felt his players showed they have got better at that too.

"Previously, if we had such a poor short period and we conceded a couple of goals, we wouldn't bounce back," stated the coach. "Now is a distinct sensation. You can sense we might not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team occasionally has to have."

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

The attacker is not the type to retreat from challenging circumstances, quite the reverse indeed. In the first half, when he was booed by the local supporters for what they believed was his gamesmanship, he reacted - instead of ignoring them - gesturing toward the badge on his shorts.

Mbeumo is a energetic nuisance, the epitome of a footballer who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond saying the self-belief gained from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an explanation.

"Our self-belief, naturally, is completely different," he said. "We came from three good games and we have a different assurance. The players comprehend one another better. We communicate increased about this.

"We demonstrated this year we can experience difficult periods but suddenly, we have three good games.

"We just need to remain engaged in the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we played the game. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Uncertainty Remains Over Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

If this was a occasion when the team showed their fighting spirit, it was also a day that must have left the Dutch forward and the young midfielder increasingly unsure of their futures in the manager's revamped Manchester United.

In his pre-match media briefing, the coach stated it was possible members of the squad who believe they are at danger of missing the World Cup will ask to leave in the January transfer window.

One can reasonably conclude the striker and Mainoo fall into that category. The forward has managed 82 minutes from his 4 top-flight substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the number is over two hours from seven.

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

"We have a lot of talent on the substitutes but at times I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow all the time, I'm going to interrupt the rhythm," explained Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the later stages, so my feeling was to avoid altering anything with the players in front."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but United would not sanction a deal. Zirkzee was coming back from a fitness issue but is now open to the possibility of a return to Serie A.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad 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 pair are expected to be back well before the transfer window closes on 2 February - which may mean a delayed resolution than any wantaway player would prefer.

"This is about the characteristics of the sport," commented the coach, when questioned specifically about Zirkzee and the midfielder. "They know it's only a phase.

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