It had been a month to forget for Southampton FC. With poor results, even poorer performances, and speculation rising about top players leaving, Saints needed something to get them back on track to finish off the season well.
But the good news seemed to come all at once this week.
Firstly, Jay Rodriguez, coming ever closer to a return from inury, squashed reports of him leaving for Spurs and signed a new 4 year extension to his contract. This, only days after returning to full training with the first team.
Les Reed announced he believes contract negotiations for another player rumoured to be leaving were in good shape. He is confident that Nathaniel Clyne will sign a new contract in time to keep the likes of United and Chelsea at bay.
The club then released their new kit build up promo – a humorous ’Mockumentary’ detailing the job and performance of new ’Pattern Expert’ Dr Barry Gale (played by comedy actor Tom Davis). This gave a fresh and entertaining way to drum up hype around the new shirt, which sees return to manufacturing for Adidas after a year of self-made kits for Saints.
The final home game is always a great occasion in any season but this time round it turned out to be even more special than anyone could hope for. After all the hysteria and nerves at the beginning of the season fans turned out in force and full voice to thank them for the entertainment this season. And they turned it on for the sold-out St. Mary’s.
A three minute hat-trick. The fastest in Premier League history, beating Robbie Fowler’s effort 11 years ago by over a minute. Not only that, it was the earliest ever Premier League hat trick, beating Dwight York’s effort.
Mane scored the first goal after a lovely through ball, a bit of pin-ball and then slid it into an open net. The second was similar finish, just a different build up as Long read Vlaar like a book and nipped in in front of Shay Given with the rebound falling to Mane to slot home again. Two goals in the space of 60 seconds.
It got even better 80-odd seconds later when Mane had a 3rd. Great work down the left from Long and Bertrand, turning and exchanging a one-two in midfield before tearing away, he got his head up and slid a great pass to Mane who had held his run to the top of the box. He opened up his body and smashed a side-footed shot into the roof of the net. The recorded time for the hat-trick was two minutes 56 seconds.
After this, Shane Long turned from supplier to scorer as he mopped up another rebound after great link up play between Mane and Pelle. But it seemed the Irishman wanted some headlines of his own. He robbed the Villa midfield of the ball, and with a couple of steadying touches, launched a 40-yard shot that curled past the helpless Given. Pandemonium! 5-0. Only 35 minutes gone!
Villa managed to sneak what must be the earliest ever consolation goal with a great cross and header from Christian Benteke just on the stroke of half time.
The second half, as is customary in any game that has 6 goals in the first 45 mins, was a little lacklustre, as Villa showed a bit of character and stifled Saints for much of the second half. Southampton did manage to add to the score with a great exchange between man-of-the-moment Mane and Djuricic on the edge of the box, before Mane whipped in a brilliant cross for Pelle to deservedly get his name on the score sheet. End result, 6-1.
Now that is how you get back to winning ways!
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