IT was a dream result for Ross County but Celtic continue to be trapped in a recurring nightmare.
The Staggies can celebrate humbling the Hoops for a second time this season to hoist themselves off the foot of the Premiership to the dizzy heights of 10th spot after Jordan White’s thudding winner.
Meanwhile the misery just continues to pile up at Parkhead.
The Doomsday Clock was already ticking for Celtic but the hands were nudged forward a few minutes last night after a familiar tale of woe.
And the real worse case scenario of arch rivals Rangers clinching the title in the city’s East End is now a step closer to reality.
The Celtic manager insisted in the build-up to this match the season was not the unmitigated disaster some have made out.
That claim was a hard sell even before this but more so now.
Ross County were superb. John Hughes had them well drilled, heroic at the back and an occasional threat up top.
But Celts had enough chances to be coasting, especially Ryan Christie who will have struggled to sleep after passing up a string of opportunities, including a first-half sitter that had to be seen to be believed.
It clearly sums up this season for the Hoops.
Every time there’s been a hint of form, it turns out disaster is lurking whenever they face a set-piece.
Celtic’s need to keep plugging away for pride this season is a different kind of pressure to what the Dingwall men are dealing with.
Their mini-revival under Yogi had hit a few bumps in recent weeks and falling to the foot of the table is never much fun when it’s the Parkhead side in town.
There’s a sense from both these clubs that the end of the campaign can’t come quickly enough.
Celtic might have won five on the spin going in but it’s only heightened the feeling of what might have been this term.
Rangers cruising to another victory earlier in the afternoon was another wound in a season when so many of them have been self-inflicted.
It’s not been easy in Dingwall either. A relegation struggle isn’t exactly fun at any time but at least County’s nearest rivals all lost at the weekend.
There were contrasting needs but both sides were out to make an early impression.
Christie almost got on the end of one in the first few minutes and Tony Andreu tested Scott Bain with a long- range shot to set the tone.
Greg Taylor pulling up inside 10 minutes wasn’t part of Lennon’s game plan though as the full-back limped off clutching his hamstring.
Diego Laxalt replaced him but the shape didn’t change and the visitors continued to probe.
David Turnbull threaded a ball through to Odsonne Edouard but the striker couldn’t get it out from under his feet.
County weren’t camping in and they nearly stunned Celts again when Blair Spittal forced Bain to divert his 20-yard drive.
Then Andreu nodded over when Jason Naismith had nudged the subsequent corner into his path.
The scare jolted Lennon’s men and Ross Laidlaw suffered an even bigger fright moments later. His wild swipe at Alex Iacovitti’s backpass allowed Edouard in and Turnbull was inches away from bundling in the cut-back.
Christie should have burst the net when the Frenchman was back in again after a slick defence splitter from Callum McGregor.
Edouard’s pass was on a plate for the former Inverness ace but he launched his effort miles over the Jail End and halfway to the town centre.
There might have been a bobble to blame but either way it was a shocker.
Christie kept coming back for more though and the chances piled up.
He was picked out by a Jonjoe Kenny cross early in the second period but he steered his header narrowly wide of the post.
Celtic had created the clear cut chances but White was posing a problem with his movement up top while Spittal and Stephen Kelly were neat on the ball.
Spittal fired across the face of goal moments before the Christie glancing effort while Laxalt was increasingly popping up in advanced areas.
The on-loan AC Milan wing-back sent a shot fizzing over the bar as the Hoops pushed for a breakthrough, with Christie dragging another effort wide after finding space on the edge of the box. The Parkhead attacker was getting closer though.
He burst into the box again and tried to tuck the ball into the far corner, only for Laidlaw to smartly slap it away.
Hughes’s men had dug deep to keep Celts at bay and the County gaffer then decided he would roll the dice.
He chucked on three subs but the trio had barely touched the ball when the Staggies surged ahead with 19 minutes to go.
Paton won a free-kick against Kenny and took the set piece himself, superbly picking out White who thumped home the header.
Another dead ball, another green and white inquest at the back. This time it looked like Laxalt who switched off but the list of guilty men this season could fill a phone book.
It was the same up the other end as Christie had one final chance to notch but he once more battered over the bar.
The attacker was hookedand Laidlaw denied sub Moi Elyounoussi’s header a the end.
County wouldn’t be denied and Celtic’s agony won’t end.
