The opposition were also accused of overly physical play by the Cardiff players during a 3–2 victory for the Czechs. A second match against the same opponents saw Cardiff win by the same scoreline before the team continued their tour by beating Austrian side First Vienna 2–0 in front of an estimated crowd of 60–70,000 people. The tour concluded with matches against German sides Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV. Cardiff defeated Dortmund 2–0 before being held to a 2–2 draw by Hamburger. Although the side ultimately missed out on the league title, their second-placed finish saw ticket sales increase greatly ahead of the new season with both the Grange and Canton stands being sold out and the rest of the ground largely full. Manager Fred Stewart, who was entering his tenth competitive season in charge, made several changes to his playing squad with ten players being signed. Harry Beadles had arrived at the club from Liverpool immediately following the end of the previous season and had been part of the club's overseas tour. He had previously had a trial at the club after the First World War which had proved unsuccessful. Several players from local teams were also brought in, including forwards Jack Nicholls, son of Cardiff director Sydney Nicholls who was signed from Newport County, and Willie Davies, signed from Swansea Town for £2,500. The club also signed James McLean from amateur side Barn Athletic, a player who was regarded as deaf and dumb, although he never played for the first team. The pitch at the club's home ground, Ninian Park, was overhauled with several tons of sand, soil and grass seeds lain ahead of the campaign after criticsm of the playing surface. In the early stages of the season, Cardiff hired noted seed experts Sutton & Co to advise on ways of improving the playing surface. Cardiff started the season with a goalless draw away to Burnley on 30 August 1924 and a 1–1 draw with Sheffield United two days later. Cardiff were one of several to begin the season slowly, including FA Cup holders Newcastle United, with "The Times" reporting that the expectant teams' "preconceived ideas have been rudely shaken". The previous four season's top goalscorer Len Davies, who had scored Cardiff's first goal of the season against Sheffield, added a brace to provide his side with their first victory in the following fixture, defeating newly-promoted Leeds United 3–1; Denis Lawson added a third with all three goals scored in the second half. However, two successive defeats followed, 1–0 in the reverse fixture against Sheffield United and 2–1 against Birmingham, that left the side in 14th position after winning only one of their opening five fixtures.