Sadio Mane scores the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history as Southampton thrash Aston Villa 6-1

• Southampton 6-1 Aston Villa - in pictures >>

Mane was the star of the show at St Mary’s with three goals in the space of two minutes and 56 seconds, breaking Robbie Fowler’s previous hat-trick record of four minutes and 33 seconds which had stood since 1994.

Shane Long scored twice and Graziano Pelle added the others as Saints gave their European hopes a significant boost with a crushing win.

Saints thought they had taken the lead on four minutes and were furious it was incorrectly ruled out by the linesman’s offside flag.

Nathaniel Clyne played a ball from the right wing round the back of the Villa defence.

It went well clear of Shane Long coming back from an offside position and hesitation between the defence and Shay Given in goal meant it came to Graziano Pelle just inside the area and he produced a calm, sidefooted volley to bury the ball in the net.

Replays showed that Pelle was clearly well onside but the flag had been raised and referee Robert Madley awarded the free kick.

Pelle came close again five minutes later, this time played in behind by Ryan Bertrand’s ball down the left. Again the Italian hit a good finish, this time low and across goal, but Given got down to his left to save.

Saints were given a let off on 11 minutes as Jack Grealish split the Saints defence with a pass into the path of Christian Benteke but he finished into the side netting.

That was the calm before the storm though that saw Mane secure a record breaking hat-trick in the space of just 176 seconds.

The first was route one as Paulo Gazzaniga pumped a long ball down field and Pelle won the flick on in the air.

Sadio Mane burst between two Villa defenders and got a bit of luck as he poked a shot towards goal that was saved by Given’s legs and came back and hit the Saints winger.

The ball broke kindly into space and Mane had the simple job of putting into the empty net.

The second also had a certain amount to do with Villa’s defensive shortcomings.

Ron Vlaar’s awful attempted back pass from the right was intercepted by Shane Long who went into a challenge with Given. The ball again broke kindly and Mane was able to finish into an unguarded net once more.

The sensational hat-trick goal came just moments later as a sensational flick from Ryan Bertrand set Shane Long breaking forward down the left and he squared a pass across the face of the penalty area to Mane who hit a first time, side footed shot that was fairly central and at head height but moved away from Given who couldn’t save it.

The keeper stopped it getting even worse a minute later as he saved from James Ward-Prowse.

But he was beaten again as Saints made it 4-0 on 26 minutes.

Mane again caused problems, cutting in from the right and playing in Pelle. He was one-on-one with Given but his shot was saved by the keeper’s legs.

This time the ball came to Long who rolled into the empty net from ten yards out.

Saints incredibly made it 5-0 with another Long goal on 38 minutes.

This was a simply stunning effort after Saints robbed Villa in possession in the middle of the pitch, Long looked up and saw Given off his line. He fired a right footed effort from 40 yards that beat the Villa keeper and had Saints fans gasping for breath.

That was not an end to the first half scoring though as Villa got one back in stoppage time.

Leonardo Bacuna whipped in a right wing cross which Benteke met at the far post and buried with a firm header.

Saints started the second half back on the front foot and almost added another as a cross was half cleared and Long had the chance to volley but he hit into the turf and wide.

Villa made their first change on 57 minutes with Gabriel Agbonlahor replacing Charles N’Zogbia.

It didn’t stop the one-way traffic with Given having to turn behind Ward-Prowse’s inswinging free kick which had just evaded the head of Toby Alderweireld.

Villa made another switch with Matthew Lowton coming on for Bacuna.

Victor Wanyama became the first player in the book after chopping down Fabian Delph.

Saints brought on Maya Yoshida on 72 minutes as he replaced Steven Davis. Alderweireld moved into central midfield with Yoshida partnering Jose Fonte at centre half.

It had been a relatively quiet period in the game until Yoshida’s far post header from Ward-Prowse’s right wing free kick required a diving save from Given and then Nathaniel Clyne fired over from a decent position.

Saints made a second change as Filip Djuiric came on for Ward-Prowse with ten minutes remaining.

Saints did finally add to their tally with a deserved goal for Graziano Pelle on 81 minutes.

Mane was the creator as he played a one-two with Djuricic and whipped in a cross from the right that found Pelle totally unmarked and he slammed home a volley from eight yards out for 6-1.

Both sides made their last substitutions with Scott Sinclair replacing Grealish for Villa and Eljero Elia coming on for Pelle.

Gazzaniga got a rare chance to shine in the closing stages as he saved with his legs from Agbonlahor before the win was confirmed and the players enjoyed a well deserved ovation from the crowd on their lap of honour to mark the final home game of this remarkable season.