Saturday 1981-01-10
| First Division |
| Division 1 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | 2 | 0 | Liverpool | Villa Park | 47,960 | |
| Withe, Mortimer | Lineups | |||||
| Coventry City | 1 | 1 | Manchester City | Highfield Road | 18,248 | |
| Hunt | Lineups | MacKenzie | ||||
| Crystal Palace | 1 | 1 | Stoke City | Selhurst Park | 14,154 | |
| Boyle | Lineups | Doyle | ||||
| Everton | 1 | 2 | Arsenal | Goodison Park | 29,360 | |
| O'Keefe | Lineups | Gatting, Vaessen | ||||
| Ipswich Town | 2 | 0 | Nottingham Forest | Portman Road | 25,701 | |
| Mariner, Muhren | Lineups | |||||
| Leeds United | 0 | 3 | Southampton | Elland Road | 21,007 | |
| Lineups | Holmes 2, Channon | |||||
| Leicester City | 0 | 2 | West Bromwich Albion | Filbert Street | 17,778 | |
| Lineups | Deehan, Bennett | |||||
| Manchester United | 2 | 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Old Trafford | 42,208 | |
| Macari, McQueen | Lineups | Ritchie | ||||
| Sunderland | 3 | 0 | Norwich City | Roker Park | 17,749 | |
| Rowell 2, Cummins | Lineups | |||||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1 | 0 | Birmingham City | White Hart Lane | 24,909 | |
| Crooks | Lineups | |||||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | 0 | Middlesbrough | Molineux | 16,253 | |
| Eves 2, Hibbitt | Lineups | |||||
| Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn |  |
First Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Last 5 Games | Next Match | ||||||
| 1 | 1 | Aston Villa | 26 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 36 | W | D | W | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Coventry City | A |
| 2 | 1 | Ipswich Town | 24 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 17 | 21 | 35 | W | D | W | W | L | 1981-01-13 | Birmingham City | H |
| 3 | -2 | Liverpool | 26 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 34 | L | D | D | W | D | 1981-01-17 | Norwich City | A |
| 4 | 0 | Arsenal | 26 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 19 | 10 | 32 | W | D | D | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Tottenham Hotspur | A |
| 5 | 1 | West Bromwich Albion | 25 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 31 | W | W | D | L | L | 1981-01-17 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H |
| 6 | 2 | Southampton | 26 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 22 | 12 | 29 | W | W | D | W | D | 1981-01-17 | Birmingham City | A |
| 7 | -2 | Nottingham Forest | 26 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 31 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 29 | L | D | W | W | L | 1981-01-31 | Everton | H |
| 8 | -1 | Manchester United | 26 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 21 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 29 | W | L | D | L | D | 1981-01-28 | Sunderland | A |
| 9 | 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 26 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 31 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 27 | 3 | 28 | W | D | D | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Arsenal | A |
| 10 | -1 | Everton | 25 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 18 | 6 | 26 | L | L | L | W | D | 1981-01-17 | Ipswich Town | H |
| 11 | 0 | Stoke City | 26 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 21 | -5 | 26 | D | D | L | W | D | 1981-01-31 | Ipswich Town | A |
| 12 | 1 | Manchester City | 26 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 22 | 0 | 25 | D | W | W | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Middlesbrough | H |
| 13 | -1 | Middlesbrough | 25 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 26 | -1 | 24 | L | W | L | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Manchester City | A |
| 14 | 0 | Birmingham City | 25 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 18 | -2 | 24 | L | W | D | L | L | 1981-01-13 | Ipswich Town | A |
| 15 | 0 | Coventry City | 26 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 22 | -8 | 24 | D | D | W | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Aston Villa | H |
| 16 | 1 | Sunderland | 26 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 0 | 22 | W | L | D | L | W | 1981-01-28 | Manchester United | H |
| 17 | 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 26 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 24 | -11 | 22 | W | L | L | L | D | 1981-01-17 | Crystal Palace | A |
| 18 | -2 | Leeds United | 26 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 24 | -16 | 22 | L | D | D | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Leicester City | A |
| 19 | -1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 26 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 27 | -13 | 20 | L | W | W | W | L | 1981-01-17 | West Bromwich Albion | A |
| 20 | 0 | Norwich City | 26 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 23 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 33 | -19 | 20 | L | D | L | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Liverpool | H |
| 21 | 0 | Leicester City | 26 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 30 | 20 | 14 | L | L | L | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Leeds United | H |
| 22 | 0 | Crystal Palace | 26 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 32 | -20 | 14 | D | L | D | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H |
| Second Division |
| Second Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackburn Rovers | 0 | 0 | Watford | Ewood Park | 9,466 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Bristol City | 0 | 1 | Cambridge United | Ashton Gate | 9,727 | |
| Lineups | Marshall OG | |||||
| Derby County | 2 | 1 | Bristol Rovers | Baseball Ground | 14,915 | |
| Gillies OG, Biley | Lineups | Lee | ||||
| Grimsby Town | 4 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers | Blundell Park | 9,320 | |
| Cumming, Drinkell 2, Waters (p) | Lineups | |||||
| Luton Town | 2 | 2 | Cardiff City | Kenilworth Road | 9,013 | |
| Moss, Price | Lineups | Kitchen, Giles | ||||
| Notts County | 0 | 0 | Shrewsbury Town | Meadow Lane | 7,139 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Orient | 2 | 3 | Oldham Athletic | Brisbane Road | 4,048 | |
| Jennings, Bowles (p) | Lineups | Keegan, Palmer 2 | ||||
| Queens Park Rangers | 1 | 1 | Preston North End | Loftus Road | 8,415 | |
| Stainrod | Lineups | Bell | ||||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | 0 | Chelsea | Hillsborough | 25,113 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Swansea City | 1 | 3 | West Ham United | Vetch Field | 22,160 | Largest home gate 1980-81 |
| Curtis | Lineups | Brooking, Cross, Pike | ||||
| Wrexham | 0 | 0 | Newcastle United | Racecourse Ground | 6,437 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| 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 | 26 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 13 | 22 | 38 | W | W | L | W | D | 1981-01-17 | Notts County | A |
| 2 | 0 | Swansea City | 26 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 32 | L | D | W | D | W | 1981-01-17 | Cambridge United | A |
| 3 | 0 | Chelsea | 26 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 31 | D | D | L | L | L | 1981-01-17 | Queens Park Rangers | A |
| 4 | 1 | Derby County | 26 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 7 | 31 | W | W | W | L | D | 1981-01-24 | Bolton Wanderers | A |
| 5 | -1 | Notts County | 25 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 31 | D | D | D | L | L | 1981-01-17 | West Ham United | H |
| 6 | 0 | Luton Town | 26 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 29 | D | W | W | W | W | 1981-01-17 | Newcastle United | H |
| 7 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers | 25 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 29 | D | W | D | D | D | 1981-01-17 | Shrewsbury Town | A |
| 8 | 1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 24 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 20 | 5 | 28 | D | D | W | L | W | 1981-01-24 | Cambridge United | A |
| 9 | -1 | Orient | 26 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 19 | 5 | 27 | L | L | D | W | W | 1981-01-17 | Cardiff City | H |
| 10 | 1 | Grimsby Town | 26 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 2 | 27 | W | W | D | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Bristol Rovers | H |
| 11 | -1 | Cambridge United | 24 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 20 | -1 | 27 | W | D | D | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Swansea City | H |
| 12 | 0 | Queens Park Rangers | 25 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 9 | 24 | D | D | W | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Chelsea | H |
| 13 | 0 | Wrexham | 26 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 11 | -4 | 24 | D | W | L | D | D | 1981-01-31 | Grimsby Town | H |
| 14 | 1 | Watford | 26 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 20 | -2 | 23 | D | D | D | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Bristol City | A |
| 15 | 1 | Newcastle United | 25 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 24 | -16 | 23 | D | L | D | D | L | 1981-01-17 | Luton Town | A |
| 16 | -2 | Bolton Wanderers | 26 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 25 | -2 | 22 | L | L | W | L | L | 1981-01-24 | Derby County | H |
| 17 | 0 | Cardiff City | 24 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 21 | -6 | 22 | D | D | D | D | D | 1981-01-17 | Orient | A |
| 18 | 0 | Preston North End | 26 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 21 | -13 | 22 | D | D | D | D | L | 1981-01-31 | West Ham United | A |
| 19 | 0 | Shrewsbury Town | 26 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 13 | -3 | 21 | D | L | D | L | L | 1981-01-17 | Blackburn Rovers | H |
| 20 | 0 | Oldham Athletic | 26 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 22 | -8 | 21 | W | L | L | D | W | 1981-01-31 | Cardiff City | A |
| 21 | 0 | Bristol City | 26 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 25 | -16 | 18 | L | D | D | D | W | 1981-01-17 | Watford | H |
| 22 | 0 | Bristol Rovers | 26 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 28 | -24 | 12 | L | L | L | D | L | 1981-01-17 | Grimsby Town | A |
| Third Division |
| Division 3 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 2 | 1 | Plymouth Argyle | Oakwell | 12,355 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Charlton Athletic | 3 | 2 | Hull City | The Valley | 6,493 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Chester | 0 | 0 | Brentford | Sealand Road | 2,237 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Colchester United | 3 | 2 | Blackpool | Layer Road | 2,378 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Exeter City | 0 | 3 | Walsall | St James Park | 4,590 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Huddersfield Town | 4 | 1 | Newport County | Leeds Road | 9,063 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Millwall | 3 | 1 | Fulham | The Den, New Cross | 6,002 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Portsmouth | 1 | 0 | Sheffield United | Fratton Park | 14,321 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Reading | 3 | 1 | Carlisle United | Elm Park | 4,197 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Rotherham United | 0 | 0 | Oxford United | Millmoor | 6,705 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Swindon Town | 0 | 1 | Chesterfield | County Ground | 6,962 | |
| 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 | 27 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 23 | 40 | W | D | L | W | W | 1981-01-17 | Chesterfield | A |
| 2 | 0 | Barnsley | 28 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 13 | 22 | 39 | W | W | D | W | D | 1981-01-16 | Fulham | A |
| 3 | 0 | Rotherham United | 29 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 28 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 37 | D | D | W | W | W | 1981-01-16 | Newport County | A |
| 4 | 1 | Huddersfield Town | 28 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 28 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 25 | 35 | W | W | D | D | D | 1981-01-17 | Brentford | A |
| 5 | -1 | Burnley | 28 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 35 | D | W | L | W | W | 1981-01-27 | Portsmouth | H |
| 6 | 0 | Chesterfield | 27 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 34 | W | L | D | D | W | 1981-01-17 | Charlton Athletic | H |
| 7 | 0 | Portsmouth | 26 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 33 | W | D | D | D | L | 1981-01-14 | Exeter City | A |
| 8 | 3 | Reading | 27 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 29 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 6 | 29 | W | W | L | D | D | 1981-01-17 | Blackpool | A |
| 9 | -1 | Exeter City | 27 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 16 | 5 | 29 | L | D | W | D | D | 1981-01-14 | Portsmouth | H |
| 10 | 0 | Chester | 29 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 17 | -4 | 29 | D | L | W | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Walsall | A |
| 11 | -2 | Sheffield United | 29 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 20 | 29 | 8 | 28 | L | L | D | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Gillingham | H |
| 12 | 2 | Colchester United | 28 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 26 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 26 | -6 | 28 | W | W | L | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Oxford United | A |
| 13 | -1 | Plymouth Argyle | 28 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 2 | 27 | L | L | L | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Millwall | H |
| 14 | -1 | Brentford | 29 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 19 | -4 | 27 | D | D | D | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Huddersfield Town | H |
| 15 | 1 | Walsall | 29 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 27 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 20 | -7 | 26 | W | D | L | D | L | 1981-01-17 | Chester | H |
| 16 | 2 | Millwall | 28 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 30 | -14 | 25 | W | D | D | W | W | 1981-01-17 | Plymouth Argyle | A |
| 17 | -2 | Newport County | 28 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 25 | -2 | 24 | L | W | D | L | L | 1981-01-16 | Rotherham United | H |
| 18 | -1 | Fulham | 28 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 20 | 24 | -9 | 23 | L | D | W | D | D | 1981-01-16 | Barnsley | H |
| 19 | 0 | Swindon Town | 27 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 19 | -11 | 22 | L | W | W | W | D | 1981-01-24 | Reading | H |
| 20 | 1 | Oxford United | 28 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 15 | -13 | 22 | D | W | W | L | L | 1981-01-17 | Colchester United | H |
| 21 | -1 | Gillingham | 28 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 27 | -14 | 22 | D | L | L | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Sheffield United | A |
| 22 | 0 | Blackpool | 27 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 29 | -18 | 20 | L | L | L | L | D | 1981-01-17 | Reading | H |
| 23 | 0 | Carlisle United | 27 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 15 | 32 | -20 | 19 | L | L | W | L | W | 1981-01-31 | Chester | H |
| 24 | 0 | Hull City | 28 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 39 | -30 | 15 | L | L | L | L | W | 1981-01-31 | Exeter City | A |
| Fourth Division |
| Division 4 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crewe Alexandra | 0 | 2 | AFC Bournemouth | Gresty Road | 3,087 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Doncaster Rovers | 3 | 1 | Aldershot | Belle Vue | 4,502 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Halifax Town | 1 | 1 | Tranmere Rovers | The Shay | 1,268 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Hartlepool United | 3 | 0 | Port Vale | Victoria Park | 3,116 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Hereford United | 0 | 1 | Bury | Edgar Street | 2,382 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Lincoln City | 1 | 1 | Bradford City | Sincil Bank | 4,670 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Northampton Town | 0 | 1 | Mansfield Town | County Ground | 2,985 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Scunthorpe United | 1 | 1 | Peterborough United | Old Showground | 2,072 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| York City | 2 | 1 | Wigan Athletic | Bootham Crescent | 2,028 | |
| 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 | 29 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 16 | 33 | 44 | W | W | W | L | W | 1981-01-23 | Northampton Town | H |
| 2 | 0 | Lincoln City | 27 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 35 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 32 | 39 | D | D | W | W | W | 1981-01-24 | Crewe Alexandra | H |
| 3 | 0 | Mansfield Town | 28 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 34 | W | D | W | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Crewe Alexandra | H |
| 4 | 0 | Hartlepool United | 28 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 21 | 7 | 33 | W | D | L | D | D | 1981-01-17 | Torquay United | A |
| 5 | 0 | Doncaster Rovers | 28 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 2 | 33 | W | W | D | W | W | 1981-01-17 | Rochdale | A |
| 6 | 1 | Peterborough United | 27 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 31 | D | L | W | D | W | 1981-01-17 | York City | H |
| 7 | -1 | Aldershot | 29 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 26 | -2 | 31 | L | D | L | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Stockport County | H |
| 8 | 0 | Rochdale | 28 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 27 | -1 | 29 | W | W | D | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Doncaster Rovers | H |
| 9 | 1 | Bradford City | 28 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 18 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 24 | -2 | 29 | D | D | D | L | L | 1981-01-28 | Peterborough United | H |
| 10 | -1 | Darlington | 28 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 2 | 28 | L | D | W | W | D | 1981-01-24 | Bury | H |
| 11 | 0 | Northampton Town | 28 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 31 | -5 | 28 | L | D | W | L | W | 1981-01-16 | Tranmere Rovers | A |
| 12 | 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 |
| 13 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | 30 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 22 | -7 | 27 | L | L | W | D | D | 1981-01-17 | Mansfield Town | A |
| 14 | 3 | York City | 28 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 25 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 24 | -3 | 26 | W | D | L | L | W | 1981-01-17 | Peterborough United | A |
| 15 | -1 | Wigan Athletic | 28 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 25 | -7 | 26 | L | L | W | D | W | 1981-01-24 | Aldershot | A |
| 16 | 3 | AFC Bournemouth | 29 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 21 | -8 | 26 | W | L | L | W | L | 1981-01-17 | Halifax Town | H |
| 17 | -1 | Tranmere Rovers | 27 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 29 | -2 | 25 | D | L | W | L | D | 1981-01-16 | Northampton Town | H |
| 18 | -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 |
| 19 | 2 | Bury | 28 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 29 | -2 | 24 | W | D | W | W | L | 1981-01-24 | Darlington | A |
| 20 | 0 | Scunthorpe United | 27 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 22 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 16 | -4 | 24 | D | D | L | W | D | 1981-01-19 | Wimbledon | A |
| 21 | -3 | Stockport County | 28 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 17 | -9 | 24 | W | L | L | L | L | 1981-01-17 | Aldershot | A |
| 22 | 0 | Port Vale | 27 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 36 | -14 | 20 | L | L | L | D | D | 1981-01-24 | Mansfield Town | A |
| 23 | 0 | Halifax Town | 28 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 21 | -16 | 18 | D | L | D | D | L | 1981-01-17 | AFC Bournemouth | A |
| 24 | 0 | Hereford United | 27 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 29 | -21 | 17 | L | L | L | W | L | 1981-01-24 | York City | A |
