Let’s just get this one out the way…

Well, that didn’t take Long.

For the uninitiated, the new record holder for the fastest Premier League goal of all time is Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long, who banged in an effort last night after just 7,69 seconds.

Southampton were eventually held to a 1-1 draw with Watford, but the headline-grabbing Long was still in pretty fine spirits after the match.

He told reporters that “the manager told us to have a quick start and get at them,” and he certainly ticked that box.

Let’s see that effort:

0.07 – At just seven seconds, Shane Long’s strike against Watford is the fastest ever scored in @premierleague history. Record.

#WATSOU#PremierLeague #PL #record pic.twitter.com/wBENLUpafa

— RJ Lahari (@DeepakLahari) April 23, 2019

His 7,69 second effort comfortably beats former Spurs defender Ledley King, who scored in 9,9 seconds against Bradford in December 2000.

Fine, we’ll have a quick look at that one, too:

Ledley King made history 15 years ago today, scoring the fastest-ever #BPL goal.https://t.co/F9Mh0QqCm2

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 9, 2015

Not exactly a showstopper, but it did hold the record for more than 18 years.

While we’re talking about last night’s football action, we should also mention our own PSL, where Cape Town City striker Kermit Erasmus had a night to forget.

He was given his marching orders in the 18th minute for kicking Highlands Park’s Mothobi Mvala, with his efforts likened to those more suited to the UFC:

Kermit Erasmus had a bizarre moment of madness in tonight’s #AbsaPrem action against Highlands Park as he lashed out and kicked Mothobi Mvala. pic.twitter.com/VaTYq4lkLV

— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) April 23, 2019

Once more with a little zoom action:

pic.twitter.com/7312uB8YWo

— Sandile van Heerden (@SandilevHeerden) April 23, 2019

Not your best work, Kermit.

Expect more fireworks tonight in the Manchester Derby, where Liverpool fans will be forced to support Manchester United, and Manchester United fans will moan relentlessly about how tough life is having not won the league title since 2012/2013.

[sources:telegraph&sport24]