1981-09-19
| First Division |
| Division 1 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City | 3 | 0 | Manchester City | St Andrew's | 20,109 | |
| Evans 3 | Lineups | |||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 | 2 | Coventry City | Goldstone Ground | 15,262 | |
| Robinson, McNab (p) | Lineups | Kaiser, Hunt | ||||
| Leeds United | 0 | 0 | Arsenal | Elland Road | 21,410 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Liverpool | 0 | 0 | Aston Villa | Anfield Road | 37,474 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Manchester United | 1 | 0 | Swansea City | Old Trafford | 47,309 | |
| Birtles | Lineups | |||||
| Notts County | 1 | 4 | Ipswich Town | Meadow Lane | 12,540 | |
| Osman OG | Lineups | Brazil 2, Wark, Muhren | ||||
| Southampton | 2 | 0 | Middlesbrough | The Dell | 20,105 | |
| Watson, Moran | Lineups | |||||
| Stoke City | 1 | 2 | Nottingham Forest | Victoria Ground | 15,653 | |
| Heath | Lineups | Walsh, Mills | ||||
| Sunderland | 0 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Roker Park | 22,061 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 0 | Everton | White Hart Lane | 31,219 | |
| Hughton, Roberts, Hoddle (p) | Lineups | |||||
| West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 0 | West Ham United | The Hawthorns | 19,459 | |
| 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 | 0 | West Ham United | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 11 | D | W | W | W | D | 1981-09-22 | Southampton | H |
| 2 | 1 | Ipswich Town | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 11 | W | W | W | D | D | 1981-09-22 | West Bromwich Albion | H |
| 3 | 2 | Southampton | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | W | D | W | W | L | 1981-09-22 | West Ham United | A |
| 4 | -2 | Swansea City | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 9 | L | W | L | W | W | 1981-09-22 | Tottenham Hotspur | H |
| 5 | 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | W | W | L | L | W | 1981-09-22 | Swansea City | A |
| 6 | 6 | Nottingham Forest | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 8 | W | D | L | D | W | 1981-09-23 | Sunderland | H |
| 7 | -3 | Manchester City | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | L | D | W | D | W | 1981-09-23 | Leeds United | H |
| 8 | 10 | Birmingham City | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 7 | W | L | W | D | L | 1981-09-22 | Arsenal | A |
| 9 | -1 | Coventry City | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 7 | D | W | L | L | W | 1981-09-22 | Liverpool | H |
| 10 | -4 | Notts County | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -2 | 7 | L | L | W | D | W | 1981-09-22 | Everton | A |
| 11 | -4 | Stoke City | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | L | L | L | W | W | 1981-09-23 | Aston Villa | A |
| 12 | -2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | D | D | W | L | D | 1981-09-22 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A |
| 13 | 0 | Sunderland | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | -1 | 6 | D | D | L | W | D | 1981-09-23 | Nottingham Forest | A |
| 14 | 0 | Aston Villa | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | D | D | W | L | L | 1981-09-23 | Stoke City | H |
| 15 | 0 | West Bromwich Albion | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | D | D | W | L | L | 1981-09-22 | Ipswich Town | A |
| 16 | 6 | Manchester United | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 5 | W | D | L | D | L | 1981-09-22 | Middlesbrough | A |
| 17 | -1 | Arsenal | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 5 | D | D | L | W | L | 1981-09-22 | Birmingham City | H |
| 18 | -1 | Liverpool | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -1 | 5 | D | L | W | D | L | 1981-09-22 | Coventry City | A |
| 19 | -8 | Everton | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -2 | 5 | L | D | L | D | W | 1981-09-22 | Notts County | H |
| 20 | 0 | Leeds United | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -5 | 5 | D | L | W | D | L | 1981-09-23 | Manchester City | A |
| 21 | -2 | Middlesbrough | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -5 | 4 | L | W | L | D | L | 1981-09-22 | Manchester United | H |
| 22 | -1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 4 | D | L | L | L | W | 1981-09-22 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H |
| Second Division |
| Second Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolton Wanderers | 0 | 2 | Oldham Athletic | Burnden Park | 7,222 | |
| Lineups | Palmer, Heaton | |||||
| Cambridge United | 2 | 1 | Barnsley | Abbey Stadium | 5,586 | |
| Mayo 2 | Lineups | Banks | ||||
| Cardiff City | 1 | 3 | Blackburn Rovers | Ninian Park | 4,248 | |
| Ronson | Lineups | Stonehouse 2, Pontin OG | ||||
| Charlton Athletic | 2 | 0 | Grimsby Town | The Valley | 6,075 | |
| Walsh 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Leicester City | 1 | 2 | Luton Town | Filbert Street | 14,159 | |
| Lynex (p) | Lineups | White 2 | ||||
| Norwich City | 2 | 1 | Newcastle United | Carrow Road | 14,384 | |
| Watson, Jack | Lineups | Waddle | ||||
| Orient | 0 | 0 | Wrexham | Brisbane Road | 2,899 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Queens Park Rangers | 1 | 0 | Crystal Palace | Loftus Road | 17,039 | |
| Stainrod | Lineups | |||||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 1 | 1 | Derby County | Hillsborough | 24,002 | |
| Megson | Lineups | Powell S | ||||
| Shrewsbury Town | 1 | 0 | Chelsea | Gay Meadow | 5,616 | |
| Biggins | Lineups | |||||
| Watford | 1 | 0 | Rotherham United | Vicarage Road | 10,696 | |
| Armstrong | 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 | Sheffield Wednesday | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 13 | D | W | W | W | W | 1981-09-22 | Barnsley | A |
| 2 | 1 | Luton Town | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 12 | W | L | W | W | W | 1981-09-22 | Cardiff City | H |
| 3 | -1 | Grimsby Town | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 10 | L | W | W | W | D | 1981-09-22 | Norwich City | H |
| 4 | 1 | Watford | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 | W | W | D | L | W | 1981-09-22 | Wrexham | A |
| 5 | 2 | Norwich City | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 10 | W | W | D | W | L | 1981-09-22 | Grimsby Town | A |
| 6 | 2 | Queens Park Rangers | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 9 | W | L | W | L | W | 1981-09-22 | Oldham Athletic | A |
| 7 | 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 9 | W | W | L | W | L | 1981-09-23 | Cambridge United | H |
| 8 | -4 | Barnsley | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | L | W | L | D | W | 1981-09-22 | Sheffield Wednesday | H |
| 9 | 3 | Derby County | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -1 | 7 | D | W | L | W | L | 1981-09-23 | Bolton Wanderers | H |
| 10 | 4 | Shrewsbury Town | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -1 | 7 | W | D | W | L | L | 1981-09-23 | Newcastle United | A |
| 11 | -5 | Leicester City | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -1 | 7 | L | L | W | W | D | 1981-09-22 | Rotherham United | A |
| 12 | 4 | Oldham Athletic | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | W | D | D | D | # | 1981-09-22 | Queens Park Rangers | H |
| 13 | 2 | Cambridge United | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | W | L | W | L | L | 1981-09-23 | Blackburn Rovers | A |
| 14 | -5 | Chelsea | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | L | L | W | W | # | 1981-09-23 | Charlton Athletic | H |
| 15 | -5 | Crystal Palace | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | L | W | L | L | W | 1981-09-22 | Orient | H |
| 16 | 2 | Charlton Athletic | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -1 | 6 | W | L | W | L | # | 1981-09-23 | Chelsea | A |
| 17 | -4 | Rotherham United | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | -2 | 6 | L | W | L | L | W | 1981-09-22 | Leicester City | H |
| 18 | -1 | Orient | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -2 | 4 | D | L | L | W | # | 1981-09-22 | Crystal Palace | A |
| 19 | 0 | Newcastle United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 3 | L | W | L | L | # | 1981-09-23 | Shrewsbury Town | H |
| 20 | 0 | Cardiff City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -4 | 1 | L | L | L | D | # | 1981-09-22 | Luton Town | A |
| 21 | 0 | Wrexham | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 1 | D | L | L | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Watford | H |
| 22 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -8 | 0 | L | L | L | L | # | 1981-09-23 | Derby County | A |
| Third Division |
| Third Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford | 0 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | Griffin Park | 4,943 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Bristol City | 2 | 1 | Newport County | Ashton Gate | 7,552 | |
| Mann 2 | Lineups | Aldridge | ||||
| Burnley | 0 | 0 | Huddersfield Town | Turf Moor | 6,524 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Chester | 0 | 0 | Millwall | Sealand Road | 2,052 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Chesterfield | 3 | 0 | Fulham | Saltergate Recreation Ground | 4,062 | |
| Bonnyman, Windridge 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Exeter City | 1 | 2 | Swindon Town | St James Park | 4,372 | |
| Kellow (p) | Lineups | Williams, Carter R | ||||
| Lincoln City | 0 | 0 | Carlisle United | Sincil Bank | 3,754 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Oxford United | 0 | 1 | Walsall | Manor Ground | 3,685 | |
| Lineups | Caswell | |||||
| Preston North End | 1 | 1 | Gillingham | Deepdale | 4,565 | |
| Bruce (p) | Lineups | Westwood | ||||
| Reading | 0 | 3 | Bristol Rovers | Elm Park | 5,187 | |
| Lineups | Randall, Stephens 2 | |||||
| Southend United | 2 | 0 | Portsmouth | Roots Hall | 4,668 | |
| Gray, Spence | Lineups | |||||
| Wimbledon | 0 | 1 | Doncaster Rovers | Plough Lane | 2,364 | |
| Lineups | Warboys (p) | |||||
| Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | |
Third Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Last 5 Games | Next Match | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | Swindon Town | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 10 | W | W | D | W | # | 1981-09-21 | Southend United | A |
| 2 | -1 | Newport County | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 9 | L | W | W | W | # | 1981-09-23 | Reading | A |
| 3 | -1 | Reading | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | L | W | W | W | # | 1981-09-23 | Newport County | H |
| 4 | 6 | Chesterfield | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | W | D | W | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Carlisle United | H |
| 5 | 4 | Doncaster Rovers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | W | W | D | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Burnley | A |
| 6 | 7 | Bristol Rovers | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | W | W | L | D | # | 1981-09-23 | Exeter City | A |
| 7 | -3 | Millwall | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | D | L | W | W | # | 1981-09-23 | Lincoln City | A |
| 8 | -2 | Lincoln City | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | D | W | D | D | # | 1981-09-23 | Millwall | H |
| 9 | -2 | Brentford | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | D | D | D | W | # | 1981-09-21 | Gillingham | H |
| 10 | -2 | Chester | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | D | W | D | D | # | 1981-09-23 | Walsall | H |
| 11 | -6 | Oxford United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | L | L | W | W | # | 1981-09-23 | Portsmouth | H |
| 12 | 5 | Southend United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -2 | 6 | W | L | L | W | # | 1981-09-21 | Swindon Town | H |
| 13 | 6 | Bristol City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | W | L | D | D | # | 1981-09-22 | Plymouth Argyle | H |
| 14 | -3 | Carlisle United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | D | W | L | D | # | 1981-09-22 | Chesterfield | A |
| 15 | 7 | Walsall | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | W | D | D | L | # | 1981-09-23 | Chester | A |
| 16 | -1 | Gillingham | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | D | L | L | W | # | 1981-09-21 | Brentford | A |
| 17 | -1 | Burnley | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -2 | 4 | D | L | W | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Doncaster Rovers | H |
| 18 | -4 | Exeter City | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 4 | L | L | W | D | # | 1981-09-23 | Bristol Rovers | H |
| 19 | -7 | Fulham | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 4 | L | W | D | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Wimbledon | A |
| 20 | -2 | Preston North End | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -4 | 4 | D | L | W | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Huddersfield Town | H |
| 21 | 0 | Huddersfield Town | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 | D | D | L | D | # | 1981-09-22 | Preston North End | A |
| 22 | -2 | Portsmouth | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 2 | L | D | L | D | # | 1981-09-23 | Oxford United | A |
| 23 | 1 | Plymouth Argyle | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 1 | D | L | L | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Bristol City | A |
| 24 | -1 | Wimbledon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -6 | 1 | L | D | L | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Fulham | H |
| Fourth Division |
| Fourth Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington | 2 | 2 | Blackpool | Feethams Ground | 2,085 | |
| Speedie, Hamilton | Lineups | Bamber, Morris | ||||
| Halifax Town | 1 | 1 | AFC Bournemouth | The Shay | 1,588 | |
| Davison | Lineups | Funnell | ||||
| Hereford United | 1 | 2 | Bradford City | Edgar Street | 2,806 | |
| Bray | Lineups | Gallagher, Campbell | ||||
| Hull City | 2 | 1 | Sheffield United | Boothferry Park | 7,219 | Largest home gate 1981-82 |
| Edwards, Booth | Lineups | Hatton | ||||
| Mansfield Town | 1 | 1 | Bury | Field Mill | 2,501 | |
| Lumby | Lineups | Gore | ||||
| Rochdale | 1 | 2 | Port Vale | Spotland | 1,824 | |
| O'Loughlin | Lineups | Keenan, Deakin (p) | ||||
| Scunthorpe United | 2 | 1 | Tranmere Rovers | Old Showground | 1,623 | |
| Cowling, Moss | Lineups | Mungall | ||||
| Wigan Athletic | 3 | 1 | Northampton Town | Springfield Park | 3,996 | |
| Glenn, Houghton, Quinn | Lineups | Denyer | ||||
| Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | |
Fourth Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Last 5 Games | Next Match | ||||||
| 1 | 1 | AFC Bournemouth | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | D | W | W | W | # | 1981-09-22 | York City | A |
| 2 | -1 | Colchester United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | W | L | W | W | # | 1981-09-22 | Aldershot | H |
| 3 | 0 | Torquay United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | L | W | W | W | # | 1981-09-23 | Hereford United | A |
| 4 | 0 | Blackpool | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | D | W | D | W | # | 1981-09-22 | Rochdale | A |
| 5 | 8 | Bradford City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | W | W | L | D | # | 1981-09-22 | Darlington | A |
| 6 | -1 | Peterborough United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | L | W | D | W | # | 1981-09-22 | Hull City | A |
| 7 | 1 | Bury | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | D | W | L | W | # | 1981-09-23 | Crewe Alexandra | A |
| 8 | -1 | Aldershot | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7 | W | W | L | D | # | 1981-09-22 | Colchester United | A |
| 9 | 5 | Hull City | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | W | D | W | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Peterborough United | H |
| 10 | -4 | Sheffield United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | L | W | W | D | # | 1981-09-21 | Stockport County | A |
| 11 | -2 | Stockport County | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | W | L | W | L | # | 1981-09-21 | Sheffield United | H |
| 12 | 3 | Port Vale | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | W | D | D | D | # | 1981-09-23 | Wigan Athletic | A |
| 13 | -3 | Hartlepool United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -1 | 6 | W | W | L | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Scunthorpe United | A |
| 14 | -3 | York City | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 6 | L | L | W | W | # | 1981-09-22 | AFC Bournemouth | H |
| 15 | -3 | Hereford United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | L | D | W | D | # | 1981-09-23 | Torquay United | H |
| 16 | 2 | Scunthorpe United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | W | L | D | D | # | 1981-09-22 | Hartlepool United | H |
| 17 | 4 | Wigan Athletic | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 | W | L | L | D | # | 1981-09-23 | Port Vale | H |
| 18 | 2 | Darlington | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 3 | D | L | D | D | # | 1981-09-22 | Bradford City | H |
| 19 | 0 | Halifax Town | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 3 | D | L | D | D | # | 1981-09-22 | Tranmere Rovers | H |
| 20 | -4 | Rochdale | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 3 | L | L | W | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Blackpool | H |
| 21 | 1 | Mansfield Town | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 2 | D | D | L | L | # | 1981-09-21 | Northampton Town | H |
| 22 | -5 | Northampton Town | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 2 | L | D | L | D | # | 1981-09-21 | Mansfield Town | A |
| 23 | 0 | Tranmere Rovers | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -7 | 1 | L | D | L | L | # | 1981-09-22 | Halifax Town | A |
| 24 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | -9 | 0 | L | L | L | L | # | 1981-09-23 | Bury | H |
