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. The Times stated that the side had started the season in "unpromising style" and attributed the downturn in fortunes to a "flaw in the link between the forwards and the half-backs". The newspaper did however predict that "better results are now likely to be achieved." The team's poor start was partly attributed to a series of injuries and illness that saw Len Davies, Jack Evans, Jimmy Nelson and Harry Wake miss several matches. Forward trio Len Davies, Jimmy Gill and Joe Clennell all scored in a 3–1 victory over Preston North End on 15 September but another injury to Davies forced him out of the side. His injury proved costly as he missed the following three matches in which Cardiff suffered home defeats to West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers and drew 1–1 against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in a match they were regarded as being fortunate to gain a point. New signing Paddy McIlvenny deputised in Davies' absence and, although he scored his first goal for the club to gain a point against Tottenham, he was noted in The Times as not being able "to hold the front line together." Some of his more experienced teammates were also heavily criticised after drawing with Tottenham, with the publication commenting "Some of the older members of the team appeared to have lost much of their fire and zeal". Davies returned in a 3–0 defeat to Notts County on 11 October although he was one of several players who wasted chances during the match. However, his return brought an upsurge in form and he enjoyed a prolific spell in front of goal, scoring braces in consecutive 2–1 victories over Everton and Newcastle United. The team's following tie against Liverpool