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."
