Josh Campbell headed St Johnstone in front, but Dundee were level after Joe Westley pounced on a goalkeeping error. The equaliser reset the game and put pressure back on the home side; Saints had to find another answer rather than protect their advantage.
Fotheringham supplied it. His deflected effort proved decisive, giving the hosts a result that had eluded them against Dundee at McDiarmid Park for half a decade.
The five-year gap gives the victory extra weight for St Johnstone’s supporters, while the scoreline reflects a match that swung after the opening goal. Dundee recovered from falling behind, but could not turn that response into a point.
For Saints, the key takeaway is the ability to recover after conceding and make a decisive moment count. For Dundee, the goalkeeping error proved costly in a match settled by a single strike.
The challenge for St Johnstone is to make this home win a starting point rather than an isolated high. Their next performances will show whether they can carry the confidence of ending the long wait into league action. Dundee, meanwhile, will want a sharper response when the sides meet again.