Ross County moved out of the Scottish Premiership relegation places after their second win over Celtic this season all but ended their visitors’ slim title hopes.
Jordan White’s 71st-minute header hauled County up to 10th and added to their League Cup win in November.
Celtic dominated possession but created little on another dispiriting night for Neil Lennon’s reigning champions.
They are left trailing Rangers by 18 points with eight games left.
That means Gerrard’s side would guarantee the title with a draw in the Old Firm game on 21 March, should they win their next two games.
However, they could win it as soon as 6 March, if Celtic lose to Aberdeen next Saturday.
Celtic arrived in Dingwall on form. Five wins in a row, with 13 scored. In contrast, County had conceded 11 in their last last five and had found themselves rooted to the bottom of the table.
The visitors cleaved out first-half chances, but County did too. Scott Bain had to tip wide a dangerous Blair Spittal pile-driver towards the near post, and Tony Andreu headed over from the corner.
Celtic were always going create something, and when Odsonne Edouard outpaced the defence and cut-back to Ryan Christie, it looked certain to be 1-0. But the Scotland international blasted over from close range.
Christie headed wide and had a near-post shot saved and Diego Laxalt – who replaced the injured Grey Taylor – shot over.
But then County sucker-punched them at the other end. Harry Paton’s free-kick found White, who rose powerfully to head in off an upright in what could be a huge moment in County’s fight for survival.
Christie continued to be Celtic’s main threat but a jinking run into the box ended with another shot over.
Celtic piled on the pressure and almost broke County hearts in the final minute, but Laidlaw got his fingertips to a Mohamed Elyounoussi header.
A late, late Leigh Griffiths free-kick sailed over as County won for the first time against Celtic in the league for eight years, and the second time in three months.
Man of the match – Michael Gardyne
What did we learn?
County have had a knack this season of producing the best results against the bigger sides. They have won at Easter Road and Celtic Park and hammered Aberdeen at home. And, in their fight to stay up, they have produced another seismic result.
Celtic all too often tried to play too much football on a pitch that was unforgiving. Despite an enormous amount of the ball, home goalkeeper Laidlaw will have had busier nights.
What did they say?
Ross County manager John Hughes: “Absolutely fantastic. We knew there would be long periods where we wouldn’t have the ball but we defended for our lives. We rode our luck a little bit but the chances we gave up were mistakes of our own doing.
“Tactically we were spot on all night. We’ve been banging on about set-pieces for a while so it’s really pleasing to get one from a free-kick.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: “It’s a strange one. It’s another poor goal from a set-piece. But I think we played well tonight and did enough to win the game.
“The goal is inexcusable. Our defenders don’t seem to want to defend this season. We do the work on the training pitch but if the players don’t attack the ball there’s not much you can do. It’s been a running theme for us this season for whatever reason.”
What’s next?
Ross County travel to St Mirren on Saturday (15:00 GMT), and at the same time Celtic will be at home to Aberdeen.
Player of the match
KellyStephen Kelly
Ross County
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Squad number18Player nameKelly
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Squad number3Player nameTremarco
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Squad number22Player nameTillson
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Squad number20Player nameSpittal
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Squad number19Player nameLakin
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Squad number24Player namePaton
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Squad number7Player nameGardyne
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Squad number16Player nameIacovitti
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Squad number26Player nameWhite
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Squad number17Player nameCharles-Cook
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Squad number15Player nameWatson
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Squad number6Player nameDraper
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Squad number23Player nameNaismith
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Squad number5Player nameMorris
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Squad number1Player nameLaidlaw
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Squad number28Player nameAndreu
Celtic
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Squad number57Player nameWelsh
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Squad number29Player nameBain
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Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
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Squad number35Player nameAjer
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Squad number16Player nameKenny
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Squad number17Player nameChristie
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Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
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Squad number93Player nameLaxalt
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Squad number3Player nameTaylor
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Squad number22Player nameEdouard
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Squad number18Player nameRogic
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Squad number8Player nameBrown
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Squad number9Player nameGriffiths
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Squad number27Player nameElyounoussi
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Laidlaw
- 23Naismith
- 5MorrisSubstituted forWatsonat 42′minutes
- 16Iacovitti
- 3Tremarco
- 20SpittalSubstituted forPatonat 61′minutes
- 18KellySubstituted forTillsonat 69′minutes
- 19Lakin
- 7GardyneSubstituted forDraperat 69′minutes
- 28AndreuSubstituted forCharles-Cookat 70′minutes
- 26White
Substitutes
- 6Draper
- 8Shaw
- 9Mckay
- 14Hylton
- 15Watson
- 17Charles-Cook
- 21Hilton
- 22Tillson
- 24Paton
Celtic
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 29Bain
- 16Kenny
- 57Welsh
- 35Ajer
- 3TaylorSubstituted forLaxaltat 9′minutes
- 8Brown
- 18RogicSubstituted forGriffithsat 67′minutes
- 14Turnbull
- 42McGregor
- 22Edouard
- 17ChristieSubstituted forElyounoussiat 83′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Griffiths
- 10Ajeti
- 11Klimala
- 12Soro
- 27Elyounoussi
- 52Henderson
- 56Ralston
- 65Hazard
- 93Laxalt
Live Text
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Match ends, Ross County 1, Celtic 0.
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Second Half ends, Ross County 1, Celtic 0.
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Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
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Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jordan Tillson (Ross County).
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Laidlaw.
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Attempt saved. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Charlie Lakin.
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Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Turnbull.
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Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).
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Jordan White (Ross County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).
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Jordan White (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).
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Regan Charles-Cook (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Celtic. Mohamed Elyounoussi replaces Ryan Christie.
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Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
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Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Draper.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Draper.
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