Jordan White (second right) heads the only goal of the game for Ross County
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.
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Lennon apologises to fans after defeat
Podcast: What is the future for Celtic?
Reaction & as it happened
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 Gardyne (left) was a colossus in midfield for County as they battled to a huge win in their fight to beat the dropWhat 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?
'Massive win' for Ross County - John Hughes
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."
'I'm not going to answer any more questions' - Lennon rues Celtic defeatWhat'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
with an average of 9.53
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Ross CountyRoss CountyRoss County
CelticCelticCeltic
Ross County
Avg
Squad number18Player nameKelly
Average rating
9.53
Squad number3Player nameTremarco
Average rating
8.64
Squad number22Player nameTillson
Average rating
8.63
Squad number20Player nameSpittal
Average rating
8.62
Squad number19Player nameLakin
Average rating
8.62
Squad number24Player namePaton
Average rating
8.61
Squad number7Player nameGardyne
Average rating
8.59
Squad number16Player nameIacovitti
Average rating
8.58
Squad number26Player nameWhite
Average rating
8.58
Squad number17Player nameCharles-Cook
Average rating
8.53
Squad number15Player nameWatson
Average rating
8.53
Squad number6Player nameDraper
Average rating
8.50
Squad number23Player nameNaismith
Average rating
8.43
Squad number5Player nameMorris
Average rating
8.40
Squad number1Player nameLaidlaw
Average rating
8.33
Squad number28Player nameAndreu
Average rating
8.31
Celtic
Avg
Squad number57Player nameWelsh
Average rating
5.53
Squad number29Player nameBain
Average rating
3.32
Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
Average rating
3.06
Squad number35Player nameAjer
Average rating
3.03
Squad number16Player nameKenny
Average rating
3.02
Squad number17Player nameChristie
Average rating
3.00
Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
Average rating
2.98
Squad number93Player nameLaxalt
Average rating
2.81
Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Average rating
2.73
Squad number22Player nameEdouard
Average rating
2.72
Squad number18Player nameRogic
Average rating
2.68
Squad number8Player nameBrown
Average rating
2.49
Squad number9Player nameGriffiths
Average rating
2.39
Squad number27Player nameElyounoussi
Average rating
2.37
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-4-1-1
1Laidlaw
23Naismith5Morris16Iacovitti3Tremarco
20Spittal18Kelly19Lakin7Gardyne
28Andreu 26White
1Laidlaw
23Naismith
5MorrisSubstituted forWatsonat 42'minutes
16Iacovitti
3Tremarco
20SpittalSubstituted forPatonat 61'minutes
18KellySubstituted forTillsonat 69'minutesBooked at 90mins
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
16Kenny57Welsh35Ajer3Taylor
8Brown
18Rogic14Turnbull
42McGregor
22Edouard17Christie
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
Referee: David Munro
Match Stats
Home TeamRoss CountyAway TeamCeltic
Possession
Home27%
Away73%
Shots
Home6
Away19
Shots on Target
Home4
Away4
Corners
Home2
Away9
Fouls
Home9
Away8
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Ross County 1, Celtic 0.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ross County 1, Celtic 0.
90'+3'
Post update
Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
90'+2'
Booking
Jordan Tillson (Ross County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'
Post update
Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Jordan Tillson (Ross County).
90'
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Laidlaw.
90'
Post update
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.
90'
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Charlie Lakin.
90'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Turnbull.
88'
Post update
Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).
88'
Post update
Jordan White (Ross County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88'
Post update
Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).
88'
Post update
Jordan White (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'
Post update
Foul by Diego Laxalt (Celtic).
84'
Post update
Regan Charles-Cook (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Mohamed Elyounoussi replaces Ryan Christie.
83'
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
82'
Post update
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
80'
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Draper.
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Source: bbc.com