Saturday 1980-12-27
| First Division |
| Division 1 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 1 | 1 | Ipswich Town | Highbury | 42,818 | |
| Sunderland | Lineups | Wark (p) | ||||
| Birmingham City | 3 | 2 | Sunderland | St Andrew's | 19,005 | |
| Gemmill, Bertschin, Worthington | Lineups | Hawley, Rowell | ||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 | 2 | Crystal Palace | Goldstone Ground | 27,367 | |
| O'Sullivan, Robinson 2 | Lineups | Murphy, Gregory OG | ||||
| Liverpool | 0 | 0 | Leeds United | Anfield Road | 44,086 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Manchester City | 4 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Maine Road | 37,817 | |
| Hutchison 2, McDonald, Reeves | Lineups | |||||
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 0 | Everton | Ayresome Park | 20,181 | |
| Ashcroft | Lineups | |||||
| Norwich City | 2 | 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | Carrow Road | 23,145 | |
| Fashanu, Bond (p) | Lineups | Archibald, Hoddle | ||||
| Nottingham Forest | 2 | 2 | Aston Villa | City Ground | 33,930 | Largest home gate 1980-81 |
| Francis, O'Neill | Lineups | Lloyd OG, Shaw | ||||
| Southampton | 4 | 0 | Leicester City | The Dell | 21,886 | |
| Moran, Keegan, George, Baker G | Lineups | |||||
| Stoke City | 2 | 2 | Coventry City | Victoria Ground | 17,765 | |
| Doyle, Griffiths | Lineups | Hateley, Thompson | ||||
| West Bromwich Albion | 3 | 1 | Manchester United | The Hawthorns | 30,326 | |
| Regis, Owen (p), Barnes | Lineups | Jovanovic | ||||
| Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn |  |
First Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Last 5 Games | Next Match | ||||||
| 1 | 0 | Liverpool | 25 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 34 | D | D | W | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Aston Villa | A |
| 2 | 0 | Aston Villa | 25 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 34 | D | W | L | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Liverpool | H |
| 3 | 0 | Ipswich Town | 23 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 33 | D | W | W | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Nottingham Forest | H |
| 4 | 0 | Arsenal | 25 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 18 | 9 | 30 | D | D | W | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Everton | A |
| 5 | 0 | Nottingham Forest | 25 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 31 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 29 | D | W | W | L | W | 1981-01-10 | Ipswich Town | A |
| 6 | 1 | West Bromwich Albion | 24 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 29 | W | D | L | L | W | 1981-01-10 | Leicester City | A |
| 7 | -1 | Manchester United | 25 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 27 | L | D | L | D | D | 1981-01-10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H |
| 8 | 1 | Southampton | 25 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 22 | 9 | 27 | W | D | W | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Leeds United | A |
| 9 | -1 | Everton | 24 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 18 | 7 | 26 | L | L | W | D | D | 1981-01-10 | Arsenal | H |
| 10 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 27 | 2 | 26 | D | D | L | W | W | 1981-01-10 | Birmingham City | H |
| 11 | 0 | Stoke City | 25 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 20 | -5 | 25 | D | L | W | D | D | 1981-01-10 | Crystal Palace | A |
| 12 | 0 | Middlesbrough | 24 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 23 | 2 | 24 | W | L | W | L | W | 1981-01-10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A |
| 13 | 1 | Manchester City | 25 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 21 | 0 | 24 | W | W | W | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Coventry City | A |
| 14 | -1 | Birmingham City | 24 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 17 | -1 | 24 | W | D | L | L | L | 1981-01-10 | Tottenham Hotspur | A |
| 15 | 0 | Coventry City | 25 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 22 | -8 | 23 | D | W | L | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Manchester City | H |
| 16 | 0 | Leeds United | 25 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 24 | -13 | 22 | D | D | L | W | W | 1981-01-10 | Southampton | H |
| 17 | 0 | Sunderland | 25 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 22 | -3 | 20 | L | D | L | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Norwich City | H |
| 18 | 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 25 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 25 | -12 | 20 | W | W | W | L | W | 1981-01-10 | Manchester United | A |
| 19 | -1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 25 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 24 | -14 | 20 | L | L | L | D | D | 1981-01-10 | Middlesbrough | H |
| 20 | -1 | Norwich City | 25 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 23 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 30 | -16 | 20 | D | L | W | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Sunderland | A |
| 21 | 0 | Leicester City | 25 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 30 | 22 | 14 | L | L | L | W | W | 1981-01-10 | West Bromwich Albion | H |
| 22 | 0 | Crystal Palace | 25 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 32 | -20 | 13 | L | D | L | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Stoke City | H |
| Manager of the month | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawrie McMenemy - Southampton | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second Division |
| Second Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolton Wanderers | 1 | 2 | Blackburn Rovers | Burnden Park | 18,184 | Largest home gate 1980-81 |
| Hoggan | Lineups | Stonehouse, Burke | ||||
| Bristol Rovers | 2 | 4 | Luton Town | Eastville | 7,010 | |
| Barrowclough, Mabbutt | Lineups | Stein 3, Hill | ||||
| Cardiff City | 3 | 3 | Swansea City | Ninian Park | 21,198 | Largest home gate 1980-81 |
| Stevens, Kitchen, Buchanan | Lineups | Robinson, Curtis, James L | ||||
| Chelsea | 0 | 0 | Bristol City | Stamford Bridge | 18,514 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Newcastle United | 0 | 2 | Derby County | St James' Park | 20,886 | |
| Lineups | Boam OG, McFarland | |||||
| Oldham Athletic | 1 | 2 | Grimsby Town | Boundary Park | 7,183 | |
| Wylde | Lineups | Waters, Ford | ||||
| Preston North End | 2 | 2 | Notts County | Deepdale | 6,551 | |
| Baxter, Elliott (p) | Lineups | Christie, McCulloch | ||||
| Shrewsbury Town | 1 | 2 | Wrexham | Gay Meadow | 8,320 | |
| Keay (p) | Lineups | McNeil, Jones J | ||||
| Watford | 1 | 1 | Queens Park Rangers | Vicarage Road | 23,547 | Largest home gate 1980-81 |
| Ward | Lineups | King | ||||
| West Ham United | 2 | 1 | Orient | Upton Park | 34,408 | |
| Allen, Holland | Lineups | Chiedozie | ||||
| Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | |
Second Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Last 5 Games | Next Match | ||||||
| 1 | 0 | West Ham United | 25 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 20 | 36 | W | L | W | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Swansea City | A |
| 2 | 0 | Swansea City | 25 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 32 | D | W | D | W | W | 1981-01-10 | West Ham United | H |
| 3 | 0 | Chelsea | 25 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 30 | D | L | L | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Sheffield Wednesday | A |
| 4 | 0 | Notts County | 24 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 30 | D | D | L | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Shrewsbury Town | H |
| 5 | 2 | Derby County | 25 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 6 | 29 | W | W | L | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Bristol Rovers | H |
| 6 | 3 | Luton Town | 25 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 28 | W | W | W | W | D | 1981-01-10 | Cardiff City | H |
| 7 | 1 | Blackburn Rovers | 24 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 28 | W | D | D | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Watford | H |
| 8 | -3 | Orient | 25 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 19 | 6 | 27 | L | D | W | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Oldham Athletic | H |
| 9 | -3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 23 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 20 | 5 | 27 | D | W | L | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Chelsea | H |
| 10 | 0 | Cambridge United | 23 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 20 | -2 | 25 | D | D | W | L | W | 1981-01-10 | Bristol City | A |
| 11 | 0 | Grimsby Town | 25 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 21 | -2 | 25 | W | D | L | W | D | 1981-01-10 | Bolton Wanderers | H |
| 12 | 0 | Queens Park Rangers | 24 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 9 | 23 | D | W | W | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Preston North End | H |
| 13 | 3 | Wrexham | 25 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 11 | -4 | 23 | W | L | D | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Newcastle United | H |
| 14 | -1 | Bolton Wanderers | 25 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 2 | 22 | L | W | L | L | W | 1981-01-10 | Grimsby Town | A |
| 15 | 0 | Watford | 25 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 20 | -2 | 22 | D | D | W | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Blackburn Rovers | A |
| 16 | -2 | Newcastle United | 24 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 24 | -16 | 22 | L | D | D | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Wrexham | A |
| 17 | 1 | Cardiff City | 23 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 19 | -6 | 21 | D | D | D | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Luton Town | A |
| 18 | 1 | Preston North End | 25 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 20 | -13 | 21 | D | D | D | L | L | 1981-01-10 | Queens Park Rangers | A |
| 19 | -2 | Shrewsbury Town | 25 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 13 | -3 | 20 | L | D | L | L | W | 1981-01-10 | Notts County | A |
| 20 | 0 | Oldham Athletic | 25 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 20 | -9 | 19 | L | L | D | W | D | 1981-01-10 | Orient | A |
| 21 | 0 | Bristol City | 25 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 25 | -15 | 18 | D | D | D | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Cambridge United | H |
| 22 | 0 | Bristol Rovers | 25 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 26 | -23 | 12 | L | L | D | L | L | 1981-01-10 | Derby County | A |
| Third Division |
| Division 3 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 3 | 0 | Walsall | Oakwell | 14,958 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Burnley | 4 | 1 | Blackpool | Turf Moor | 10,782 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Charlton Athletic | 1 | 1 | Fulham | The Valley | 11,573 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Chester | 2 | 1 | Chesterfield | Sealand Road | 4,424 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Colchester United | 2 | 1 | Gillingham | Layer Road | 3,879 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Exeter City | 2 | 2 | Newport County | St James Park | 6,295 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Huddersfield Town | 5 | 0 | Hull City | Leeds Road | 13,240 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Millwall | 0 | 0 | Portsmouth | The Den, New Cross | 8,311 | Largest home gate 1980-81 |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Reading | 0 | 1 | Oxford United | Elm Park | 7,260 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Rotherham United | 3 | 0 | Carlisle United | Millmoor | 8,450 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Sheffield United | 0 | 0 | Brentford | Bramall Lane | 13,130 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Swindon Town | 3 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | County Ground | 9,966 | Largest home gate 1980-81 |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | |
Third Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Last 5 Games | Next Match | ||||||
| 1 | 0 | Charlton Athletic | 26 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 22 | 38 | D | L | W | W | W | 1981-01-10 | Hull City | H |
| 2 | 0 | Barnsley | 27 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 13 | 21 | 37 | W | D | W | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Plymouth Argyle | H |
| 3 | 0 | Rotherham United | 27 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 35 | W | W | W | L | W | 1981-01-03 | Gillingham | A |
| 4 | 1 | Burnley | 27 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 34 | W | L | W | W | L | 1981-01-03 | Brentford | A |
| 5 | 1 | Huddersfield Town | 27 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 22 | 33 | W | D | D | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Newport County | H |
| 6 | -2 | Chesterfield | 26 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 32 | L | D | D | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Swindon Town | A |
| 7 | 0 | Portsmouth | 25 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 31 | D | D | D | L | W | 1981-01-10 | Sheffield United | H |
| 8 | 0 | Exeter City | 26 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 16 | 8 | 29 | D | W | D | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Walsall | H |
| 9 | 0 | Sheffield United | 27 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 20 | 24 | 13 | 28 | D | L | W | W | D | 1981-01-03 | Newport County | A |
| 10 | 1 | Chester | 27 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 14 | -1 | 28 | W | W | L | D | W | 1981-01-02 | Reading | A |
| 11 | -1 | Plymouth Argyle | 27 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 27 | L | L | L | W | D | 1981-01-10 | Barnsley | A |
| 12 | 2 | Colchester United | 27 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 23 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 26 | -7 | 26 | W | L | W | L | W | 1981-01-10 | Blackpool | H |
| 13 | -1 | Reading | 25 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 1 | 25 | L | D | D | L | W | 1981-01-02 | Chester | H |
| 14 | -1 | Brentford | 27 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 19 | -4 | 25 | D | W | L | D | L | 1981-01-03 | Burnley | H |
| 15 | 1 | Fulham | 27 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 21 | -7 | 23 | D | W | D | D | D | 1981-01-10 | Millwall | A |
| 16 | -1 | Walsall | 27 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 28 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 20 | -10 | 23 | L | D | L | L | D | 1981-01-03 | Millwall | H |
| 17 | 0 | Newport County | 26 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 21 | -3 | 22 | D | L | L | D | D | 1981-01-03 | Sheffield United | H |
| 18 | 2 | Swindon Town | 26 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 19 | -10 | 22 | W | W | W | D | W | 1981-01-10 | Chesterfield | H |
| 19 | 0 | Millwall | 26 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 30 | -16 | 22 | D | W | W | L | D | 1981-01-03 | Walsall | A |
| 20 | 2 | Oxford United | 27 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 15 | -13 | 21 | W | W | L | L | L | 1981-01-10 | Rotherham United | A |
| 21 | -3 | Gillingham | 27 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 27 | -14 | 21 | L | L | W | L | L | 1981-01-03 | Rotherham United | H |
| 22 | -1 | Blackpool | 26 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 26 | -17 | 20 | L | L | L | D | L | 1981-01-10 | Colchester United | A |
| 23 | 0 | Carlisle United | 26 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 29 | -18 | 19 | L | W | L | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Reading | A |
| 24 | 0 | Hull City | 27 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 36 | -29 | 15 | L | L | L | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Charlton Athletic | A |
| Manager of the month | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Thollope - Swindon Town | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Division |
| Division 4 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crewe Alexandra | 1 | 0 | Peterborough United | Gresty Road | 4,132 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Doncaster Rovers | 1 | 0 | Tranmere Rovers | Belle Vue | 5,530 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Halifax Town | 1 | 2 | Darlington | The Shay | 1,805 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Hartlepool United | 2 | 2 | Bradford City | Victoria Park | 3,695 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Hereford United | 0 | 1 | Torquay United | Edgar Street | 3,412 | Largest home gate 1980-81 |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Lincoln City | 1 | 1 | Mansfield Town | Sincil Bank | 6,240 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Northampton Town | 5 | 1 | Port Vale | County Ground | 2,978 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Scunthorpe United | 2 | 2 | Bury | Old Showground | 2,368 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Southend United | 3 | 0 | Aldershot | Roots Hall | 7,252 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Stockport County | 0 | 1 | Wigan Athletic | Edgeley Park | 3,062 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Wimbledon | 2 | 0 | AFC Bournemouth | Plough Lane | 2,681 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| York City | 1 | 2 | Rochdale | Bootham Crescent | 2,828 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | |
Fourth Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Last 5 Games | Next Match | ||||||
| 1 | 0 | Southend United | 27 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 16 | 31 | 40 | W | L | W | W | W | 1981-01-03 | Wigan Athletic | A |
| 2 | 0 | Lincoln City | 26 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 34 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 32 | 38 | D | W | W | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Bradford City | H |
| 3 | 0 | Mansfield Town | 27 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 9 | 32 | D | W | L | W | W | 1981-01-10 | Northampton Town | A |
| 4 | 1 | Hartlepool United | 27 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 21 | 4 | 31 | D | L | D | D | L | 1981-01-10 | Port Vale | H |
| 5 | 2 | Doncaster Rovers | 27 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 0 | 31 | W | D | W | W | L | 1981-01-10 | Aldershot | H |
| 6 | -2 | Peterborough United | 26 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 30 | L | W | D | W | W | 1981-01-10 | Scunthorpe United | A |
| 7 | -1 | Aldershot | 27 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 23 | 0 | 30 | L | W | L | W | L | 1981-01-03 | Northampton Town | H |
| 8 | 0 | Bradford City | 27 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 18 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 23 | -2 | 28 | D | D | L | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Lincoln City | A |
| 9 | 0 | Wimbledon | 26 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 18 | 8 | 27 | W | W | D | L | L | 1981-01-19 | Scunthorpe United | H |
| 10 | 0 | Darlington | 26 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 3 | 27 | W | W | D | D | D | 1981-01-03 | York City | H |
| 11 | 0 | Rochdale | 27 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 27 | -3 | 27 | W | D | L | W | L | 1981-01-03 | Crewe Alexandra | H |
| 12 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | 28 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 20 | -3 | 27 | W | D | D | L | D | 1981-01-03 | Rochdale | A |
| 13 | 0 | Northampton Town | 26 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 31 | -4 | 27 | W | L | W | D | W | 1981-01-03 | Aldershot | A |
| 14 | 1 | Wigan Athletic | 26 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 23 | -5 | 26 | W | D | W | D | D | 1981-01-03 | Southend United | H |
| 15 | 3 | Torquay United | 27 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 22 | -3 | 25 | W | L | L | D | W | 1981-01-17 | Hartlepool United | H |
| 16 | -2 | Tranmere Rovers | 26 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 28 | -2 | 24 | L | W | L | D | L | 1981-01-10 | Halifax Town | A |
| 17 | -1 | AFC Bournemouth | 27 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 21 | -9 | 24 | L | W | L | L | W | 1981-01-03 | Stockport County | H |
| 18 | -1 | York City | 26 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 24 | -4 | 23 | L | L | W | D | D | 1981-01-03 | Darlington | A |
| 19 | 0 | Scunthorpe United | 26 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 16 | -4 | 23 | D | L | W | D | D | 1981-01-10 | Peterborough United | H |
| 20 | 1 | Bury | 27 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 17 | 29 | -3 | 22 | D | W | W | L | W | 1981-01-10 | Hereford United | A |
| 21 | -1 | Stockport County | 27 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 17 | -10 | 22 | L | L | L | L | L | 1981-01-03 | AFC Bournemouth | A |
| 22 | 0 | Port Vale | 26 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 33 | -11 | 20 | L | L | D | D | L | 1981-01-10 | Hartlepool United | A |
| 23 | 0 | Halifax Town | 27 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 23 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 21 | -16 | 17 | L | D | D | L | L | 1981-01-10 | Tranmere Rovers | H |
| 24 | 0 | Hereford United | 26 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 29 | -20 | 17 | L | L | W | L | D | 1981-01-10 | Bury | H |
| Manager of the month | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colin Murphy - Lincoln City | |||||||||||||||||||||||
