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When you cannot win, don't lose - as the proverb states.

Prior to their visit to Forest, Man Utd had secured just 8 points from losing positions with Ruben Amorim. They had failed to secure a single point from the previous six games when they trailed since the trip to Bournemouth last spring, when a last-minute goal secured a tie.

When they went down at the City Ground after letting in two goals in a short span, as Forest reversed a controversial first-half opener, United were in serious trouble.

The inquiry to the manager after his side recovered to draw could not have been more direct.

'If that game happened last season, do you believe it would have ended in defeat?'

The response was just as forceful.

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

It's impossible to determine the actual outcome. What we do know that Amad Diallo showed why Amorim picks him at defensive wing by flashing home a brilliant first-time volley from near the edge of the penalty area nine minutes from time to earn a point.

It's been clear since the start of the campaign that Manchester United are playing better this season. Since the beginning of October, they have additionally been achieving more positive outcomes.

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

In this match, the manager felt his squad demonstrated they have got better at that as well.

"In the past, if we had such a bad short period and we suffered a couple of goals, we don't recover," said Amorim. "Now is a different sensation. You can sense we might not triumph in this game but we are not going to lose. And that is a feeling a big team sometimes has to have."

The manager didn't say it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo must have helped.

The attacker is not one to shy away from difficult situations, actually the opposite in fact. In the opening period, when he was booed by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he reacted - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the epitome of a player who will never allow an opponent a moment's peace.

Amorim was questioned precisely what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the confidence generated from the prior three consecutive victories, he didn't provide an explanation.

"The confidence, of course, is completely changed," he said. "Following three good games and we have a different confidence. We understand one another more effectively. We communicate increased about this.

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

"We just need to remain engaged in the game until the last moments. In the past, we could have lost everything the way we performed in the encounter. Today, the impression was not that one."

Doubt Remains Regarding Futures of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team displayed their fighting spirit, it was additionally a moment that must have left Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo increasingly unsure of their roles in the manager's new-look Manchester United.

In his before the game press conference, the coach said it was likely players who think they are at risk of missing the international tournament will request transfers in the January transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fall into that bracket. The forward has accumulated 82 minutes from his four top-flight substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the total is 138 from seven.

Not one has started a league match this season and nor were they called upon to be substituted on at the stadium, as United chased a way back into a game they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a lot of quality on the substitutes but at times I have the impression if I'm going to disrupt the game constantly, I'm going to break the rhythm," said Amorim. "Our performance was getting better during the second half, so my feeling was not to change anything with the players in attack."

Mainoo had a deal in progress to move to Napoli in the last days of the transfer period but United would not approve a deal. The striker was returning from injury but is currently open to the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The situation is made more complex by the loss of the winger and Amad to the Africa Cup of Nations in the middle of the winter, a time which includes a couple of weekday matches which will require a degree of rotation not previously needed.

As the championship match is on January 18th, the pair are expected to be returned well before the transfer window ends on February 2nd - which may mean a later outcome than any wantaway individual would like.

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

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