I DIDN'T want a relegation season on my CV but it's happened now and we just need to get on with it and look to the future.
We made a good start against Liverpool on Sunday and looked like we might take the fight to the last day.
But then it was the same old story - a defensive mistake led to their opening goal.
It gave us a mountain to climb and it's difficult enough to beat the Reds without gifting them a goal start.
The lads battled on well and had a right go in the second half.
We should have had a penalty but, three minutes later, Liverpool went and scored again and killed the game off, really.
But credit to the lads for keeping on fighting and creating good chances against one of the best teams in the world.
We knew our fate at the end of the game - and it's disappointing.
It really hit the lads and everyone was down in the dumps.
All we could think was 'what if we'd done this and that?'
We haven't been far off all season.
We talked after the game about how good the fans were and we can only try to repay them by getting straight back up next season.
Fair play to the supporters who are travelling in numbers to Blackburn on Sunday - in their Tony Mowbray masks!
Unfortunately, I won't be playing because my heel has still not healed.
It's just a waiting game for me but my aim is to be fit for the start of pre-season.
I'll keep coming in to the training ground until it's healed and then I'll be back in with the rest of the lads in July.
It's going to be difficult at Blackburn but hopefully we can go out and enjoy the day, put a show on at Ewood Park and get a win for the fans.
There are other incentives for us to return down the M6 with the three points.
Some of our players might not get the chance to play in the Premier League again and we'd also like to leapfrog Middlesbrough and not finish bottom.
But we're still going to be relegated - and that's not nice.
I just wish the season went on for a bit longer.
There is a real frustration in the dressing room.
We all know in certain games it has just been silly mistakes that have cost us points.
You only have to look at Wigan away when we created loads of chances and still lost the game.
The lads now know how to win games in this division - but we've run out of matches.
At least we'll go into next season with the experience of getting promoted from the Championship before.
Maybe a few more faces, who are used to the Championship, can help us and we'll hopefully get straight back up.
Over the course of this season, I think beating West Ham at home in September was our best moment.
To win 3-2 like we did that day with a late winner was great for the team.
We played well and scored three goals.
Individually, winning at my former club Middlesbrough in September was special because I was sad to leave there and I was delighted to get the 1-0 result.
Losing at Sunderland 4-0 in December was a bad day but, for me, the worst day, apart from Sunday, was at Wigan when we played so well but still somehow lost.
That was at the stage of the season when we needed some wins because the gap to safety was opening up.
On a personal note, I wanted to score more than my three goals this term.
But I think I've been unlucky in front of goal.
All the chances I had seem to have been saved.
Other than that I'm happy with my season and I'm looking forward to the future.
I was delighted to see Brunty collect the club's official Player-of-the-Year Award before Sunday's kick-off.
He was my pick so I'm glad he got it.
He's our top scorer and, since Christmas, has played really well.
Playing on the right has suited him as he gets lots of chances.
He's also made himself a firm fans' favourite as he's grown into the Premier League.
That lack of top-flight experience in our squad has been one of the main factors this season.
It has taken time for the lads to get used to this level of football and, in the second half of the season, we have started getting a grip of it.
Robbie Koren has taken to it and Jonas has been getting better - there are a lot of pluses despite relegation.
Our Young Player-of-the-Year Award went to centre-half Paul Downing.
He's done well and hopefully he can progress now because we need a few more younger players coming through.
Hopefully, the gaffer can give them a chance, like he has done with Chris Wood, and they will kick on and push the first-team lads all the way.
But it will be difficult because there is a lot of pressure on us to get straight back up.
This is the final time I'll be jotting down my thoughts this season so I'd just like to sign off by saying a huge thank you to all the fans for their tremendous support.
