RYAN Christie “doesn’t really want the season to end” as Cherries look to return to winning ways tomorrow against Crystal Palace (kick-off 3pm).

The Scot has made 29 appearances in his debut top flight season, helping Cherries effectively seal survival with four games remaining.

A strong surge of form in April quelled fears of an instant return to the second tier following last season's promotion, Cherries earning 15 points from a possible 21 last month.

Whilst defeat to Chelsea last time out slightly dampened spirits, Christie shared how he and his teammates were keen to pick up more points to put the cherry on top of a successful season.

Asked about how he has found this season, Christie told afcb.co.uk: “Loved it, loved it. Obviously we've still got work to do, three more games, hopefully another couple of positive results. Would be nice to really kind of cement us up that table, because I think we deserve it.

“Obviously we've had good spells and bad spells, but I think at the start of the season, we probably would have expected that.

“And if you'd said where we are with three games to go, we definitely would have taken it.

“I've loved it, love the experience as the rest of the boys have.

“There's a part of me that doesn't really want the season to end, to be honest. You want it to keep going and keep enjoying it.”

Cherries travel to London to face a Palace side already mathematically safe, with Gary O’Neil’s needing just one more point to confirm their own place in next year’s Premier League.

“Palace are a good team, full of very creative individuals,” Christie continued.

“That'll be another tough ask but like I said, we're desperate to get a couple more positive performances and results before the end of the season.”