Southampton's Sadio Mane scores fastest hat-trick in English Premier League history
Saints winger takes just 2 minutes 56 seconds for treble in 6-1 demolition of Villa. Meanwhile, Hull, Newcastle and Sunderland fight to avoid relegation as season finale looms
Southampton's Sadio Mane scored the fastest hat-trick in English Premier League history as the Senegal winger's astonishing spree condemned dismal Aston Villa to a 6-1 defeat on Saturday.
Mane took just two minutes and 56 seconds to demolish Villa at St Mary's and surpass the previous record of four minutes and 33 seconds set by Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler against Arsenal in 1994.
The 23-year-old also set a new mark for the quickest post-war English top-flight treble as Villa's defence parted with alarming ease.
Is there one final twist? Can we upset the apple cart. Let's hope we can do it
Meanwhile, Hull City plunged closer to relegation by losing 2-0 to Tottenham after second-half goals by Nacer Chadli and Danny Rose. With one game left - at home to Manchester United next Sunday - Hull are third from bottom, two points behind Newcastle and three adrift of Sunderland.
Hull manager Steve Bruce put a brave face on his situation, telling BBC Sport. "We have a chance," he said. "Is there one final twist? Can we upset the apple cart. Let's hope we can do it."
With Hull midfielder Jake Livermore having been suspended last week by the Football Association and his club following a positive test for cocaine, Bruce admitted: "It has been unquestionably my hardest 24-36 hours in management. It is hard to put your head round things."
Newcastle coach John Carver said: "Having lost, this is the best scenario with Hull losing. There's one game left and it's a do or die situation."
Hull's loss ensured Aston Villa and Leicester will be in the Premier League next season.
Leicester drew 0-0 with Sunderland, completing a remarkable escape act after spending most of the season at the bottom of the standings.
Saints' Mane played down his heroics. He said: "Really? It is the fastest Premier League hat-trick? The most important thing today is the victory," he said.
"We have a chance to finish in the Europa League spots. We will try to win the next game against Manchester City and why not?"
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood was downcast. "It was unrecognisable from the team we had, but credit to Southampton for punishing us for our mistakes, and there were a few," he said.
The fastest ever hat-trick in English football was set by James Hayter when he scored three times in two minutes and 20 seconds after coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Bournemouth in their third-tier match against Wrexham in 2004.
In other games, Everton beat West Ham 2-1 away while Burnley and Stoke drew 0-0.
Norwich are one game away from returning to the Premier League after beating 10-man Ipswich 3-1 to reach the Championship play-off final.
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Norwich advanced 4-2 on aggregate and will face Middlesbrough in the Wembley final on May 25. Middlesbrough beat Brentford 3-0 to win their semi-final 5-1 on aggregate.
