On Twitter, Robbie Fowler cheekily wondered what all the fuss was about. He knew really, but a sense of humour helps alleviate any anguish at seeing a long-held record get broken.
Tim Sherwood, his face as stony as Mount Rushmore, was not laughing as Sadio Mane scored the quickest hat-trick in Premier League history.
Three goals in an incredible two minutes and 56 seconds from the bendy-limbed winger set Southampton’s sights back on the Europa League and dispelled any notion Aston Villa might take this opportunity to secure their Premier League future for certain.
Southampton's Sadio Mane celebrates the first of the first-half treble on his way to the fastest ever Premier League hat-trick
Southampton players crowd around Mane after the Senegalese winger found the net for the third time in two minutes and 56 seconds
Alan Hutton is helpless as Mane slots in his first of the day with a simple left-footed finish after a defensive shambles from Villa
Mane makes it 2-0 little more than a minute after his first with his other foot, again into an unattended net
Mane's third was a gem of a finish, first time with the side of his right boot and into the roof of the net
Between the 13th and 16th minutes at St Mary’s, Fowler’s speedy hat-trick of four minutes, 33 seconds – established 21 years ago – was obliterated.
Twice Mane took advantage of awful defending to prosper, before smacking in a brilliant shot to complete a flowing move and his hat-trick.
It would get better for Saints, worse for Villa, who were playing like amateurs at the back.
By the 38th minute the score was 5-0, Shane Long netting a brace, the second of which a stunning strike from 40 yards.
Ron Vlaar was experiencing a torrid afternoon, which perhaps adjusts the parameters of his forthcoming contract talks.
The Dutchman was at fault for Mane’s first and second, and then, late on, took the bizarre decision to attempt an offside trap allowing Graziano Pelle a free run to smash home Mane’s cross.
With survival not yet attained and an FA Cup final against Arsenal ahead, Villa were hit for six.
On the stroke of half-time Christian Benteke scored his 12th goal in 11 games to give Villa fans some small scrap to cheer.
They continued to chant throughout the second half, and captain Fabian Delph stood to applaud at full-time in recognition.
They had come in fancy dress expecting to party in the sunshine. Austin Powers and the Honey Monster were in attendance.
It was a shame for them Villa’s defenders all came as the Invisible Man.
The face of Alan Hutton (right) tells the story for Villa as Long basks in the glory of his second goal of the match
Before Mane went manic, Pelle had the ball in the net in the fourth minute with a neat finish from Nathaniel Clyne’s through ball. The offside flag had been raised however. Pelle was onside, but the backtracking Long not. It was a moot call given the Irish forward did not get actively involved in the move.
But rather than a meaningful reprieve for Villa, it was simply a stay of execution.
In the 13th minute Paulo Gazzaniga sent a long ball forward that should not have caused the havoc it did. But Pelle leaped above Jores Okore to flick on and Mane nipped ahead of Vlaar to race away. He beat Alan Hutton for strength and rolled the ball into an empty net after his initial effort had fallen kindly from Shay Given’s save.
Tim Sherwood looks to the skies as Southampton celebrate a dream first half on their way to a win after just a point in their last four games
Sherwood can only gasp as Aston Villa prepare to restart yet again after Southampton race to a 5-0 lead in the first half
Little more than a minute later, Vlaar underhit a backpass, Given ran to block Long’s shot but Mane arrived to slot into an unguarded net once more.
Villa were reeling, and like a concussed boxer unable to put up any proper guard. Southampton sensed blood and sliced open another chance with a slick move involving Ryan Bertrand and Long. Long passed square to Mane, who side-footed into the roof of the net from 18 yards.
It was dizzying stuff and the statistics began falling. Fowler’s broken record was the standout, but Mane also became the midfielder with most Premier League goals in 2015. Sixteen minutes was the earliest a player has registered three goals in a Premier League game (beating Dwight Yorke’s 22 minutes in 2001).
Christian Benteke rises above Jose Fonte to peg one back for Villa in the 45th minute but his strike hardly change the mood of his side
Benteke gets the better of Portuguese defender Fonte to prevent Southampton from keeping a clean sheet at St Mary's
Saints keeper Paulo Gazzaniga watches Benteke's header sail into the top corner to his right on the stroke of half-time
Villa’s high line was an invitation for Southampton to keep coming and in the 26th minute it was four. Mane set Pelle clear, Given saved, and Long rolled into another empty net. Given was furious Long was afforded space and time with no defender within ten yards.
Long’s second was all his own doing. Ashley Westwood failed to shield the ball from the Southampton forward’s customary eagerness, losing possession.
Danger seemed distant with Long 40 yards out. But he hit a stunning shot into the top corner to leave Given flummoxed. Long became the first player since Luis Suarez in December 2013 to register two or more goals and two or more assists in a single Premier League game.
Villa got one back on the stroke of half-time, Benteke leaping high to power in Leandro Bacuna’s cross. But it was small consolation.
Graziano Pelle (right) goes straight for Mane to celebrate after the hat-trick hero's cross finds the Italian for the Saints' sixth goal
Mane applauds the crowd after his record-breaking afternoon that broke hat-trick records held by Fowler and Dwight Yorke
Southampton players joins hands to thank the St Mary's crowd for their support on their final home game of the season
A satisfied Ronald Koeman applauds his side's fans after full time after a convincing win on Saturday
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