The Teessiders have made a habit of saving their best for the big occasion in recent seasons, and have enviable records against some of the Barclays Premier League's big hitters.

Even this season, they were desperately unfortunate to lose to leaders Liverpool at Anfield, and can boast an away win at Aston Villa and a creditable home draw with Arsenal.

However, Gareth Southgate's side has once again suffered from an inconsistency which has seen them win just one of their last eight league games and take only seven points in the process.

That has left them in 14th place the table, two points clear of the drop zone, and facing Everton and Manchester United in their two games over the holiday period.

However, Turnbull is banking on the seemingly traditional response Southgate gets when he sends his troops into battle with the division's big guns.

He said: "They are games to look forward to. Everton are a big team and it will be a tough game.

"If we could pick up three points on Boxing Day, we would get closer to them, so it's an important game for us.

"Obviously going to Manchester United is going to be difficult, but it's always something to look forward to going there because you are in a no-lose situation.

"Everyone expects us to go there and pick up anything, so if we do, it's an added bonus."

Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Fulham was a demoralising setback for a team which had held the Gunners to a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium a week earlier.

However, Southgate is aware of how quickly things can change in a division which is tighter than it has been for many years, and he has wasted little time in getting that message across to his players.

Turnbull said: "We had a meeting on Monday. Obviously, we were all disappointed on Saturday, but we are all positive, we know we have games coming up that we could win.

"It's a tight league and we know if we can put a run together, like we have done before, we can climb the table.

"It is hard to take. You are going to win games, you are going to lose games, you are going to draw games, so we just need to pick up points to keep that tally going.

"It's hard to put a finger on it. We have played really well at times and we haven't at other times, so it's getting that consistency, I suppose.

"But we are only three points off eighth, so it is not all doom and gloom. We just want to look forward and not behind us."

Turnbull is now firmly established in the team having won, for now, the race to succeed Mark Schwarzer following his departure for Fulham.

He remains in contract talks with the club, but has indicated his desire to stay, although the futures of some of his team-mates are less certain.

Tuncay Sanli, Stewart Downing and Mido have all been linked with January moves away from the Riverside, and while Southgate does not want to sell any of his better players, he knows he will have to if he wants to strengthen his own hand.

Turnbull said: "There is no hiding the fact we have got a good squad here.

"It is sticking with what we have got, or whether the manager wants to go out and buy any players, it's his decision.

"But we have got a good squad and there is no reason why we can't go and pick up points and climb the table."