1981-09-12
| First Division |
| Division 1 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 1 | 1 | Sunderland | Highbury | 26,527 | |
| Sunderland | Lineups | Rowell | ||||
| Aston Villa | 1 | 1 | Manchester United | Villa Park | 37,661 | |
| Cowans | Lineups | Stapleton | ||||
| Coventry City | 4 | 0 | Leeds United | Highfield Road | 13,065 | |
| Kaiser, Thompson 2, Whitton | Lineups | |||||
| Everton | 1 | 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Goodison Park | 27,352 | |
| Wright | Lineups | Robinson | ||||
| Ipswich Town | 2 | 0 | Liverpool | Portman Road | 27,603 | |
| Neal OG, Wark (p) | Lineups | |||||
| Manchester City | 1 | 1 | Southampton | Maine Road | 42,003 | |
| Reeves | Lineups | Keegan | ||||
| Middlesbrough | 2 | 1 | Birmingham City | Ayresome Park | 13,167 | |
| Otto, Hodgson | Lineups | Whatmore | ||||
| Nottingham Forest | 0 | 0 | West Bromwich Albion | City Ground | 22,618 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Swansea City | 3 | 2 | Notts County | Vetch Field | 14,738 | |
| Curtis, James L, Latchford | Lineups | O'Brien (p), McCulloch | ||||
| West Ham United | 3 | 2 | Stoke City | Upton Park | 28,774 | |
| Goddard 2, Stewart | Lineups | O'Callaghan, Maguire (p) | ||||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Molineux | 18,675 | |
| Lineups | Galvin | |||||
| 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 | West Ham United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 10 | W | W | W | D | # | 1981-09-19 | West Bromwich Albion | A |
| 2 | 4 | Swansea City | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 9 | W | L | W | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Manchester United | A |
| 3 | 4 | Ipswich Town | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | W | W | D | D | # | 1981-09-19 | Notts County | A |
| 4 | -2 | Manchester City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 8 | D | W | D | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Birmingham City | A |
| 5 | -1 | Southampton | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | D | W | W | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Middlesbrough | H |
| 6 | -3 | Notts County | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | L | W | D | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Ipswich Town | H |
| 7 | -2 | Stoke City | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | L | L | W | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Nottingham Forest | H |
| 8 | 11 | Coventry City | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | W | L | L | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A |
| 9 | 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | -3 | 6 | W | L | L | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Everton | H |
| 10 | -2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | D | W | L | D | # | 1981-09-19 | Coventry City | H |
| 11 | -2 | Everton | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | D | L | D | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Tottenham Hotspur | A |
| 12 | -1 | Nottingham Forest | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | D | L | D | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Stoke City | A |
| 13 | 1 | Sunderland | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | -1 | 5 | D | L | W | D | # | 1981-09-19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H |
| 14 | 2 | Aston Villa | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | D | W | L | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Liverpool | A |
| 15 | 0 | West Bromwich Albion | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | D | W | L | L | # | 1981-09-19 | West Ham United | H |
| 16 | 1 | Arsenal | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 4 | D | L | W | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Leeds United | A |
| 17 | -7 | Liverpool | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -1 | 4 | L | W | D | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Aston Villa | H |
| 18 | -6 | Birmingham City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -2 | 4 | L | W | D | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Manchester City | H |
| 19 | 3 | Middlesbrough | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 4 | W | L | D | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Southampton | A |
| 20 | -7 | Leeds United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -5 | 4 | L | W | D | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Arsenal | H |
| 21 | -1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 3 | L | L | L | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Sunderland | A |
| 22 | -1 | Manchester United | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -2 | 2 | D | L | D | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Swansea City | H |
| Second Division |
| Second Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 3 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers | Oakwell | 13,844 | |
| Aylott 2, McCarthy | Lineups | |||||
| Blackburn Rovers | 2 | 0 | Orient | Ewood Park | 7,043 | |
| Keeley, Crawford | Lineups | |||||
| Chelsea | 1 | 3 | Watford | Stamford Bridge | 20,036 | Largest home gate 1981-82 |
| Walker | Lineups | Callaghan, Rostron, Armstrong | ||||
| Crystal Palace | 2 | 0 | Charlton Athletic | Selhurst Park | 14,357 | |
| Walsh 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Derby County | 3 | 1 | Leicester City | Baseball Ground | 16,046 | Largest home gate 1981-82 |
| Hector, Buckley, Ramage | Lineups | Melrose | ||||
| Grimsby Town | 2 | 1 | Queens Park Rangers | Blundell Park | 9,490 | |
| Cumming 2 | Lineups | Gregory | ||||
| Luton Town | 0 | 3 | Sheffield Wednesday | Kenilworth Road | 12,131 | |
| Lineups | Megson, McCulloch, Bannister | |||||
| Newcastle United | 1 | 0 | Cambridge United | St James' Park | 14,666 | |
| Trewick | Lineups | |||||
| Oldham Athletic | 1 | 1 | Shrewsbury Town | Boundary Park | 3,994 | |
| Palmer | Lineups | Bates | ||||
| Rotherham United | 1 | 0 | Cardiff City | Millmoor | 7,002 | |
| Moore | Lineups | |||||
| Wrexham | 2 | 3 | Norwich City | Racecourse Ground | 4,007 | |
| Vinter, McNeil | Lineups | Shepherd, Jack, Barham | ||||
| Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | |
Second Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Last 5 Games | Next Match | ||||||
| 1 | 1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 12 | W | W | W | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Derby County | H |
| 2 | 1 | Grimsby Town | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 10 | W | W | W | D | # | 1981-09-19 | Charlton Athletic | A |
| 3 | -2 | Luton Town | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | L | W | W | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Leicester City | A |
| 4 | 3 | Barnsley | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | W | L | D | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Cambridge United | A |
| 5 | 3 | Watford | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | W | D | L | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Rotherham United | H |
| 6 | -2 | Leicester City | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 7 | L | W | W | D | # | 1981-09-19 | Luton Town | H |
| 7 | 2 | Norwich City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -1 | 7 | W | D | W | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Newcastle United | H |
| 8 | -3 | Queens Park Rangers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | L | W | L | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Crystal Palace | H |
| 9 | -3 | Chelsea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | L | W | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Shrewsbury Town | A |
| 10 | 3 | Crystal Palace | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | W | L | L | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Queens Park Rangers | A |
| 11 | 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | W | L | W | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Cardiff City | A |
| 12 | 5 | Derby County | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -1 | 6 | W | L | W | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Sheffield Wednesday | A |
| 13 | 2 | Rotherham United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -1 | 6 | W | L | L | W | # | 1981-09-19 | Watford | A |
| 14 | 0 | Shrewsbury Town | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -2 | 4 | D | W | L | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Chelsea | H |
| 15 | -5 | Cambridge United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | L | W | L | L | # | 1981-09-19 | Barnsley | H |
| 16 | 2 | Oldham Athletic | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | D | D | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Bolton Wanderers | A |
| 17 | -6 | Orient | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -2 | 3 | L | L | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Wrexham | H |
| 18 | -6 | Charlton Athletic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -3 | 3 | L | W | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Grimsby Town | H |
| 19 | 3 | Newcastle United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 3 | W | L | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Norwich City | A |
| 20 | -1 | Cardiff City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -2 | 1 | L | L | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Blackburn Rovers | H |
| 21 | 0 | Wrexham | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 0 | L | L | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Orient | A |
| 22 | -2 | Bolton Wanderers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -6 | 0 | L | L | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Oldham Athletic | H |
| Third Division |
| Third Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Rovers | 2 | 1 | Burnley | Eastville | 5,083 | |
| Stephens 2 | Lineups | Kite OG | ||||
| Carlisle United | 3 | 2 | Southend United | Brunton Park | 3,596 | |
| Robson, Crabbe (p), Moody OG | Lineups | Cusack, Gray | ||||
| Fulham | 2 | 1 | Bristol City | Craven Cottage | 4,169 | |
| Davies, Brown | Lineups | Mann | ||||
| Gillingham | 0 | 1 | Chester | Priestfield Stadium | 3,990 | |
| Lineups | Simpson | |||||
| Huddersfield Town | 1 | 1 | Wimbledon | Leeds Road | 7,326 | |
| Fletcher | Lineups | Leslie | ||||
| Newport County | 3 | 2 | Oxford United | Somerton Park | 5,293 | |
| Waddle 2, Aldridge | Lineups | Cassells, Shotton | ||||
| Plymouth Argyle | 0 | 2 | Lincoln City | Home Park | 3,323 | |
| Lineups | Gilbert, Cockerill | |||||
| Portsmouth | 2 | 2 | Brentford | Fratton Park | 10,364 | |
| Rafferty, Hemmerman | Lineups | Booker, Crown | ||||
| Swindon Town | 4 | 0 | Preston North End | County Ground | 5,695 | |
| Rowland 2, Carter R 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Walsall | 1 | 1 | Chesterfield | Fellows Park | 3,280 | |
| Waddington S | Lineups | Green | ||||
| 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 | Newport County | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 9 | W | W | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Bristol City | A |
| 2 | 3 | Swindon Town | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | W | D | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Exeter City | A |
| 3 | -1 | Millwall | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | W | W | # | # | # | 1981-09-13 | Reading | H |
| 4 | -1 | Reading | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | W | W | # | # | # | 1981-09-13 | Millwall | A |
| 5 | -1 | Oxford United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | L | W | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Walsall | H |
| 6 | 10 | Lincoln City | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | W | D | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Carlisle United | H |
| 7 | 0 | Brentford | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 | D | D | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Plymouth Argyle | H |
| 8 | 7 | Chester | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | W | D | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Millwall | H |
| 9 | -3 | Doncaster Rovers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | W | D | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Wimbledon | A |
| 10 | 0 | Chesterfield | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | D | W | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Fulham | H |
| 11 | 6 | Carlisle United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | W | L | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Lincoln City | A |
| 12 | 6 | Fulham | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | W | D | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Chesterfield | A |
| 13 | 9 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 4 | W | L | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Reading | A |
| 14 | -6 | Exeter City | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -2 | 4 | L | W | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Swindon Town | H |
| 15 | -6 | Gillingham | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | L | L | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Preston North End | A |
| 16 | -4 | Burnley | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -2 | 3 | L | W | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Huddersfield Town | H |
| 17 | -4 | Southend United | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -4 | 3 | L | L | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Portsmouth | H |
| 18 | -7 | Preston North End | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -4 | 3 | L | W | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Gillingham | H |
| 19 | -5 | Bristol City | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 | L | D | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Newport County | H |
| 20 | 0 | Portsmouth | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 2 | D | L | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Southend United | A |
| 21 | -2 | Huddersfield Town | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 2 | D | L | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Burnley | A |
| 22 | -1 | Walsall | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 | D | D | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Oxford United | A |
| 23 | 1 | Wimbledon | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -5 | 1 | D | L | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Doncaster Rovers | H |
| 24 | -1 | Plymouth Argyle | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 0 | L | L | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Brentford | A |
| Fourth Division |
| Fourth Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Bournemouth | 2 | 0 | Darlington | Dean Court | 3,900 | |
| Smith, Morgan | Lineups | |||||
| Aldershot | 3 | 1 | Halifax Town | Recreation Ground | 1,733 | |
| Lucas, Sanford, Wanklyn | Lineups | Graham | ||||
| Blackpool | 5 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | Bloomfield Road | 4,506 | |
| Bamber, Goddard 2, Morris, Hockaday | Lineups | |||||
| Bradford City | 6 | 2 | York City | Valley Parade | 3,601 | |
| Jackson 2, Black, Campbell 3 (1p) | Lineups | Walwyn, Byrne | ||||
| Bury | 2 | 0 | Stockport County | Gigg Lane | 3,077 | |
| Madden 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Hartlepool United | 2 | 1 | Wigan Athletic | Victoria Park | 1,712 | |
| Linacre J, Hampton | Lineups | Houghton | ||||
| Northampton Town | 1 | 1 | Hull City | County Ground | 1,938 | |
| Denyer (p) | Lineups | Mutrie | ||||
| Peterborough United | 5 | 1 | Rochdale | London Road | 3,768 | |
| Quow, Cooke 3, Slack | Lineups | Wellings (p) | ||||
| Port Vale | 0 | 0 | Mansfield Town | Vale Park | 3,043 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Sheffield United | 1 | 0 | Colchester United | Bramall Lane | 11,293 | |
| Hatton | Lineups | |||||
| Torquay United | 1 | 0 | Scunthorpe United | Plainmoor | 2,156 | |
| Cooper | Lineups | |||||
| Tranmere Rovers | 0 | 0 | Hereford United | Prenton Park | 1,413 | |
| 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 | 2 | AFC Bournemouth | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | W | W | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Halifax Town | A |
| 2 | 2 | Torquay United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | W | W | W | # | # | 1981-09-18 | Colchester United | A |
| 3 | 3 | Blackpool | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | W | D | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Darlington | A |
| 4 | 4 | Peterborough United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | W | D | W | # | # | 1981-09-18 | Stockport County | A |
| 5 | 2 | Sheffield United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | W | W | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Hull City | A |
| 6 | -5 | Colchester United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | L | W | W | # | # | 1981-09-18 | Torquay United | H |
| 7 | 3 | Bury | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | W | L | W | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Mansfield Town | A |
| 8 | -6 | York City | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -1 | 6 | L | W | W | # | # | 1981-09-18 | Hartlepool United | H |
| 9 | -4 | Hereford United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | D | W | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Bradford City | H |
| 10 | 7 | Bradford City | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | W | L | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Hereford United | A |
| 11 | 9 | Aldershot | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | W | L | D | # | # | 1981-09-18 | Crewe Alexandra | A |
| 12 | -1 | Hull City | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | D | W | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Sheffield United | H |
| 13 | 3 | Port Vale | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | D | D | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Rochdale | A |
| 14 | 8 | Hartlepool United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 3 | W | L | L | # | # | 1981-09-18 | York City | A |
| 15 | -6 | Stockport County | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -2 | 3 | L | W | L | # | # | 1981-09-18 | Peterborough United | H |
| 16 | -4 | Rochdale | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -6 | 3 | L | W | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Port Vale | H |
| 17 | 2 | Northampton Town | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 | D | L | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Wigan Athletic | A |
| 18 | -5 | Scunthorpe United | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 | L | D | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Tranmere Rovers | H |
| 19 | -4 | Halifax Town | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 2 | L | D | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | AFC Bournemouth | H |
| 20 | -6 | Darlington | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 2 | L | D | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Blackpool | H |
| 21 | -3 | Wigan Athletic | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -2 | 1 | L | L | D | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Northampton Town | H |
| 22 | -1 | Mansfield Town | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 1 | D | L | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Bury | H |
| 23 | 1 | Tranmere Rovers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -6 | 1 | D | L | L | # | # | 1981-09-19 | Scunthorpe United | A |
| 24 | -1 | Crewe Alexandra | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | -8 | 0 | L | L | L | # | # | 1981-09-18 | Aldershot | H |
