Southampton moved to sixth in the Premier League after thrashing Aston Villa 6-1 at St Mary's Stadium this afternoon.

Sadio Mane's record-breaking hat-trick in less than three first-half minutes sent them on their way, before Shane Long added two more to put the hosts 5-0 up.

Christian Benteke pulled one back before the break, but it was not to be the foundations of a miraculous comeback and Graziano Pelle got in on the act for the Saints late on.

Here, Sports Mole analyses the performances of those involved on a madcap afternoon on the South Coast.

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Goal

Paulo Gazzaniga: Given very little to do until late on, when he made one or two really good saves. Just what he needed after a difficult time at Leicester last weekend. (6/10)

Defence

Ryan Bertrand: Got forward really well and would have had a first-half assist if not for Pelle's profilgacy. (7/10)

Jose Fonte: Perhaps beaten a little too easily by Benteke in scoring the consolation before half time, but made up for it with an assured second-half display. (6/10)

Toby Alderweireld: Southampton fans let him know what they think of him after another fine performance by the Atletico Madrid loanee on what could prove to be his last home game. (7/10)

Nathaniel Clyne: Should have got in on the act late on but missed a good chance. Never tested defensively and fizzed in some exceptional balls from right-back. (6/10)

Midfield

Victor Wanyama: Booked, but sat in front of Southampton's defence well in both halves - particularly the second. (6/10)

Steven Davis: Received a standing applause when he went off for Yoshida. Like Gazzaniga, Davis endured a tough time last week, but responded really well here. (7/10)

James Ward-Prowse: First game back from suspension and looked ever so rusty, but came through it unscathed. Set-piece delivery might have been a little better. (5/10)

Sadio Mane: Netted a first-half hat-trick in two minutes and 56 seconds for what was the quickest treble in Premier League history, snatching it from Robbie Fowler. A constant menace throughout. (9/10)

Attack

Shane Long: Comfortably man of the match on any other day, having had a huge hand in four of the six goals, but Mane just shades it slightly. Still, a fine performance from Long. (8/10)

Graziano Pelle: Unlucky to see his opener ruled out for offside, but got on the scoresheet eventually, having already missed two one-on-ones with Given. (6/10)

Substitutes

Maya Yoshida: Almost scored early on in his 20-minute cameo, but saw his effort saved by Given. (6/10)

Filip Djuricic: Had a big role in the sixth goal after playing an excellent one-two with Mane. (6/10)

Goal

Shay Given: Bizarrely, not really at fault for any of the six goals after being constantly let down by the men ahead of him in defence. Made a host of impressive second-half saves and should not be worried about being dropped for the FA Cup final. (7/10)

Defence

Leandro Bacuna: Perhaps their best defender on the day, though did turn his back from a free kick that led to the fourth goal. Inexplicable, but made up for it regularly from there on in. (6/10)

Ron Vlaar: Arguably Villa's best defender but their worst on the day and was directly responsible for the second goal. Lacklustre from the big Dutchman. (3/10)

Jores Okore: Allowed Pelle to get the run on him far too often. Not the main reason for the scoreline, but also did little to prevent it. (4/10)

Alan Hutton: Was thrown in at the deep end after being asked to play left-back - and subsequently drowned. One to forget and was outmuscled by Mane far too easily in the build-up to the first goal. (4/10)

Midfield

Ashley Westwood: Dithered in possession as Long picked his pocket and lobbed Given for the fifth before half time. Should have scored late on but blazed over. (4/10)

Tom Cleverley: Had scored in three successive games prior to today, but another was never on the cards here. Still, moved the ball better than a number of his teammates this afternoon - especially in the second half. (5/10)

Fabian Delph: Should have had an assist when Benteke blazed his excellent pass over the bar. Could have contributed more defensively in midfield. (4/10)

Jack Grealish: One or two promising signs, but this is not the way the youngster would have liked to finish a week in which he was in the spotlight. (5/10)

Charles N'Zogbia: Grabbed an assist for Benteke with a fantastic cross in what was his only positive contribution this afternoon. (4/10)

Attack

Christian Benteke: Reduced the five-goal deficit to four with a fine header just before the break, but Southampton's defence got much tighter to him after the interval. (6/10)

Substitutes

Gabriel Agbonlahor: Should have made it 6-2 late on, but his close-range effort was kept out by Given. (4/10)

Scott Sinclair: Had 10 minutes in which to make an impact, but the opportunity passed him by. (4/10)

Written by
Shane Callaghan