1981-09-26
| First Division |
| Division 1 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 0 | 0 | Manchester United | Highbury | 39,797 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Aston Villa | 0 | 0 | Birmingham City | Villa Park | 40,763 | Largest home gate 1981-82 |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Coventry City | 4 | 2 | Southampton | Highfield Road | 12,610 | |
| Hunt 2, Thompson 2 | Lineups | Keegan 2 | ||||
| Everton | 1 | 0 | West Bromwich Albion | Goodison Park | 23,881 | |
| Lyons | Lineups | |||||
| Ipswich Town | 2 | 1 | Leeds United | Portman Road | 22,319 | |
| Butcher, Gates | Lineups | Barnes | ||||
| Manchester City | 0 | 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Maine Road | 39,085 | |
| Lineups | Falco | |||||
| Middlesbrough | 3 | 2 | Stoke City | Ayresome Park | 11,604 | |
| Cochrane, Woof, Shearer | Lineups | Griffiths, Chapman | ||||
| Nottingham Forest | 2 | 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | City Ground | 19,220 | |
| Burns, Wallace | Lineups | Smith | ||||
| Swansea City | 2 | 0 | Sunderland | Vetch Field | 17,826 | |
| Curtis, James L (p) | Lineups | |||||
| West Ham United | 1 | 1 | Liverpool | Upton Park | 30,802 | |
| Pike | Lineups | Johnson | ||||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | 2 | Notts County | Molineux | 11,594 | |
| Eves 2, Daniel | Lineups | Berry OG, Goodwin | ||||
| 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 | Ipswich Town | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 17 | W | W | W | W | W | 1981-10-03 | Southampton | A |
| 2 | -1 | West Ham United | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 15 | D | W | D | W | W | 1981-10-03 | Birmingham City | A |
| 3 | 0 | Swansea City | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 15 | W | W | L | W | L | 1981-10-03 | Liverpool | A |
| 4 | 1 | Nottingham Forest | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 14 | W | W | W | D | L | 1981-10-03 | Tottenham Hotspur | A |
| 5 | 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 12 | W | L | W | W | L | 1981-10-03 | Nottingham Forest | H |
| 6 | -2 | Manchester City | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 11 | L | W | L | D | W | 1981-10-03 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A |
| 7 | 3 | Everton | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 11 | W | W | L | D | L | 1981-10-03 | Stoke City | A |
| 8 | 7 | Coventry City | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 10 | W | L | D | W | L | 1981-10-03 | Sunderland | A |
| 9 | -3 | Southampton | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 10 | L | L | W | D | W | 1981-10-03 | Ipswich Town | H |
| 10 | -3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | L | W | D | D | W | 1981-10-03 | Manchester City | H |
| 11 | -2 | Manchester United | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | D | W | W | D | L | 1981-09-30 | Leeds United | H |
| 12 | -1 | Liverpool | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 9 | D | W | D | L | W | 1981-10-03 | Swansea City | H |
| 13 | -1 | Arsenal | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | D | W | D | D | L | 1981-10-03 | Notts County | A |
| 14 | 0 | Birmingham City | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 8 | D | L | W | L | W | 1981-10-03 | West Ham United | H |
| 15 | -2 | Stoke City | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 7 | L | D | L | L | L | 1981-10-03 | Everton | H |
| 16 | 1 | Aston Villa | 7 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | D | D | D | D | W | 1981-10-03 | Leeds United | A |
| 17 | -1 | Notts County | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -5 | 7 | L | L | L | L | W | 1981-10-03 | Arsenal | H |
| 18 | 3 | Middlesbrough | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -6 | 7 | W | L | L | W | L | 1981-10-03 | West Bromwich Albion | A |
| 19 | 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 7 | W | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-03 | Manchester United | A |
| 20 | -2 | Sunderland | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -5 | 6 | L | L | D | D | L | 1981-10-03 | Coventry City | H |
| 21 | -2 | West Bromwich Albion | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -2 | 5 | L | L | D | D | W | 1981-10-03 | Middlesbrough | H |
| 22 | -2 | Leeds United | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 15 | -10 | 5 | L | L | D | L | W | 1981-09-30 | Manchester United | A |
| Second Division |
| Second Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 0 | 1 | Cardiff City | Oakwell | 12,114 | |
| Lineups | Stevens | |||||
| Blackburn Rovers | 0 | 2 | Leicester City | Ewood Park | 8,925 | |
| Lineups | May, Melrose | |||||
| Chelsea | 2 | 1 | Norwich City | Stamford Bridge | 14,509 | |
| Bumstead (p), Driver | Lineups | Jack | ||||
| Crystal Palace | 0 | 1 | Shrewsbury Town | Selhurst Park | 9,803 | |
| Lineups | Bates | |||||
| Derby County | 3 | 1 | Queens Park Rangers | Baseball Ground | 11,246 | |
| Hector 2, Ramage | Lineups | Gregory | ||||
| Grimsby Town | 0 | 1 | Sheffield Wednesday | Blundell Park | 13,110 | Largest home gate 1981-82 |
| Lineups | Curran | |||||
| Luton Town | 4 | 1 | Watford | Kenilworth Road | 12,839 | |
| Moss 2 (2p), Stein 2 | Lineups | Bolton | ||||
| Newcastle United | 1 | 0 | Orient | St James' Park | 13,737 | |
| Trewick | Lineups | |||||
| Oldham Athletic | 2 | 0 | Cambridge United | Boundary Park | 4,549 | |
| Wylde, Heaton | Lineups | |||||
| Rotherham United | 2 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers | Millmoor | 6,998 | |
| Green, Henson | Lineups | |||||
| Wrexham | 1 | 0 | Charlton Athletic | Racecourse Ground | 3,076 | |
| McNeil (p) | 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 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 16 | W | L | D | W | W | 1981-10-03 | Wrexham | H |
| 2 | 3 | Luton Town | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 15 | W | L | W | L | W | 1981-10-03 | Orient | A |
| 3 | 0 | Norwich City | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 13 | L | W | W | W | D | 1981-10-03 | Oldham Athletic | H |
| 4 | -2 | Watford | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 13 | L | W | W | W | D | 1981-10-03 | Barnsley | H |
| 5 | 3 | Oldham Athletic | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 12 | W | W | W | D | D | 1981-10-03 | Norwich City | A |
| 6 | -2 | Blackburn Rovers | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 12 | L | W | W | W | L | 1981-10-03 | Queens Park Rangers | A |
| 7 | 4 | Leicester City | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 11 | W | D | L | L | W | 1981-10-03 | Crystal Palace | H |
| 8 | -2 | Barnsley | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | L | W | L | W | L | 1981-10-03 | Watford | A |
| 9 | 3 | Chelsea | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | W | D | L | L | W | 1981-09-28 | Orient | A |
| 10 | -3 | Grimsby Town | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 10 | L | L | L | W | W | 1981-10-03 | Bolton Wanderers | A |
| 11 | 3 | Rotherham United | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | W | D | L | W | L | 1981-10-03 | Shrewsbury Town | A |
| 12 | 3 | Derby County | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -1 | 10 | W | L | D | W | L | 1981-10-03 | Charlton Athletic | A |
| 13 | 3 | Shrewsbury Town | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -2 | 10 | W | L | W | D | W | 1981-10-03 | Rotherham United | H |
| 14 | -5 | Queens Park Rangers | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 9 | L | L | W | L | W | 1981-10-03 | Blackburn Rovers | H |
| 15 | -5 | Crystal Palace | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | L | W | L | W | L | 1981-10-03 | Leicester City | A |
| 16 | 2 | Newcastle United | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -1 | 9 | W | W | L | W | L | 1981-09-29 | Bolton Wanderers | A |
| 17 | 2 | Cardiff City | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | -2 | 7 | W | W | L | L | L | 1981-10-03 | Newcastle United | H |
| 18 | -5 | Charlton Athletic | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -2 | 7 | L | D | W | L | W | 1981-10-03 | Derby County | H |
| 19 | -2 | Cambridge United | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | -2 | 6 | L | L | W | L | W | 1981-10-03 | Chelsea | H |
| 20 | 2 | Wrexham | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 4 | W | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-03 | Sheffield Wednesday | A |
| 21 | -1 | Orient | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -4 | 4 | L | L | D | L | L | 1981-09-28 | Chelsea | H |
| 22 | -1 | Bolton Wanderers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -8 | 3 | L | W | L | L | L | 1981-09-29 | Newcastle United | H |
| Third Division |
| Third Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Rovers | 0 | 2 | Lincoln City | Eastville | 6,112 | |
| Lineups | Cunningham, Cammack | |||||
| Carlisle United | 2 | 1 | Oxford United | Brunton Park | 3,085 | |
| Lee, Beardsley | Lineups | Shotton | ||||
| Doncaster Rovers | 1 | 0 | Brentford | Belle Vue | 5,494 | |
| Warboys | Lineups | |||||
| Fulham | 2 | 0 | Chester | Craven Cottage | 3,629 | |
| O'Driscoll, Lewington | Lineups | |||||
| Gillingham | 2 | 3 | Exeter City | Priestfield Stadium | 4,158 | |
| Bowman, Price | Lineups | Lester, Roberts L, Roberts P | ||||
| Huddersfield Town | 3 | 2 | Southend United | Leeds Road | 7,254 | |
| Kindon (p), Robins, Kennedy (p) | Lineups | Pountney, Gray | ||||
| Millwall | 4 | 3 | Burnley | The Den, New Cross | 4,796 | |
| Chatterton, West, Bartley, Anderson | Lineups | Laws, Overson, Potts | ||||
| Newport County | 1 | 1 | Preston North End | Somerton Park | 5,064 | |
| Anderson OG | Lineups | Doyle | ||||
| Plymouth Argyle | 0 | 2 | Chesterfield | Home Park | 3,451 | |
| Lineups | Nisbet OG, Henderson | |||||
| Portsmouth | 2 | 0 | Bristol City | Fratton Park | 10,203 | |
| Tait, Berry | Lineups | |||||
| Swindon Town | 0 | 2 | Reading | County Ground | 9,608 | Largest home gate 1981-82 |
| Lineups | Heale, Earles | |||||
| Walsall | 1 | 0 | Wimbledon | Fellows Park | 3,027 | |
| Penn | 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 | Reading | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 15 | W | W | L | W | W | 1981-09-29 | Plymouth Argyle | A |
| 2 | 1 | Chesterfield | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 13 | W | W | W | D | W | 1981-09-29 | Swindon Town | A |
| 3 | 2 | Doncaster Rovers | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 13 | W | W | W | W | D | 1981-09-29 | Preston North End | H |
| 4 | 2 | Millwall | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 13 | W | W | D | L | W | 1981-09-29 | Oxford United | H |
| 5 | -3 | Swindon Town | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 11 | L | D | W | W | D | 1981-09-29 | Chesterfield | H |
| 6 | 1 | Newport County | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 10 | D | L | L | W | W | 1981-09-29 | Brentford | H |
| 7 | -3 | Bristol Rovers | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 10 | L | W | W | W | L | 1981-09-29 | Wimbledon | H |
| 8 | 3 | Fulham | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 10 | W | W | L | W | D | 1981-09-29 | Southend United | H |
| 9 | 4 | Lincoln City | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 9 | W | L | D | W | D | 1981-09-29 | Walsall | A |
| 10 | 5 | Walsall | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | W | D | W | D | D | 1981-09-29 | Lincoln City | H |
| 11 | 7 | Portsmouth | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | W | W | L | D | L | 1981-09-29 | Exeter City | H |
| 12 | 5 | Carlisle United | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | W | L | D | W | L | 1981-09-29 | Burnley | H |
| 13 | -5 | Bristol City | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -1 | 8 | L | W | W | L | D | 1981-09-29 | Gillingham | A |
| 14 | -5 | Gillingham | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | L | W | D | L | L | 1981-09-29 | Bristol City | H |
| 15 | 5 | Huddersfield Town | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | W | D | D | D | L | 1981-09-29 | Chester | H |
| 16 | -6 | Chester | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 7 | L | D | D | W | D | 1981-09-29 | Huddersfield Town | A |
| 17 | -5 | Southend United | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -3 | 7 | L | D | W | L | L | 1981-09-29 | Fulham | A |
| 18 | 4 | Exeter City | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -4 | 7 | W | L | L | L | W | 1981-09-29 | Portsmouth | A |
| 19 | -5 | Brentford | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | -1 | 6 | L | L | D | D | D | 1981-09-29 | Newport County | A |
| 20 | -4 | Oxford United | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -3 | 6 | L | L | L | L | W | 1981-09-29 | Millwall | A |
| 21 | -2 | Preston North End | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -4 | 6 | D | D | D | L | W | 1981-09-29 | Doncaster Rovers | A |
| 22 | -1 | Burnley | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 4 | L | L | D | L | W | 1981-09-29 | Carlisle United | A |
| 23 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -7 | 1 | L | L | D | L | L | 1981-09-29 | Reading | H |
| 24 | 0 | Wimbledon | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -9 | 1 | L | L | L | D | L | 1981-09-29 | Bristol Rovers | A |
| Fourth Division |
| Fourth Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Bournemouth | 1 | 0 | Rochdale | Dean Court | 5,146 | |
| Dawtry | Lineups | |||||
| Aldershot | 2 | 3 | Mansfield Town | Recreation Ground | 2,486 | |
| Sanford, Brodie | Lineups | Burrows, Lumby, Boam | ||||
| Blackpool | 3 | 1 | Hull City | Bloomfield Road | 4,838 | |
| Bamber 2, Morris | Lineups | Mutrie | ||||
| Bradford City | 2 | 1 | Colchester United | Valley Parade | 4,772 | |
| Gallagher, Staniforth | Lineups | Leslie | ||||
| Bury | 2 | 0 | Darlington | Gigg Lane | 2,562 | |
| Johnson 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Hartlepool United | 3 | 2 | Halifax Town | Victoria Park | 1,800 | |
| Hampton 2, Houchen | Lineups | Davison, McIlwraith | ||||
| Northampton Town | 2 | 3 | Hereford United | County Ground | 1,552 | |
| Phillips 2 | Lineups | Bray, McGrellis, Dobson | ||||
| Peterborough United | 3 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | London Road | 3,775 | |
| Cooke, Kellock, Hodgson | Lineups | |||||
| Port Vale | 1 | 0 | Stockport County | Vale Park | 2,755 | |
| Moss | Lineups | |||||
| Sheffield United | 1 | 0 | Scunthorpe United | Bramall Lane | 11,687 | |
| Kenworthy | Lineups | |||||
| Torquay United | 3 | 2 | York City | Plainmoor | 2,960 | |
| Larmour (p), Cooper, Sermanni | Lineups | Walwyn, Pollard | ||||
| Tranmere Rovers | 0 | 0 | Wigan Athletic | Prenton Park | 2,774 | |
| 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 | AFC Bournemouth | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 16 | W | W | D | W | W | 1981-09-29 | Wigan Athletic | H |
| 2 | 0 | Torquay United | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15 | W | W | L | W | W | 1981-09-30 | Mansfield Town | H |
| 3 | 0 | Bradford City | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 13 | W | W | W | W | L | 1981-09-30 | Rochdale | H |
| 4 | 1 | Bury | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 13 | W | W | D | W | L | 1981-09-29 | Scunthorpe United | H |
| 5 | 1 | Blackpool | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 12 | W | D | D | W | D | 1981-09-30 | Halifax Town | H |
| 6 | 2 | Peterborough United | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 11 | W | D | L | W | D | 1981-10-03 | Darlington | A |
| 7 | -3 | Colchester United | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 10 | L | D | W | L | W | 1981-09-28 | Port Vale | A |
| 8 | 5 | Sheffield United | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | W | L | L | W | W | 1981-09-29 | Crewe Alexandra | H |
| 9 | -2 | Stockport County | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 9 | L | W | W | L | W | 1981-09-29 | Northampton Town | A |
| 10 | 4 | Port Vale | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 9 | W | L | W | D | D | 1981-09-28 | Colchester United | H |
| 11 | 4 | Hartlepool United | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 9 | W | L | W | W | L | 1981-09-30 | Hull City | H |
| 12 | 0 | Wigan Athletic | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 8 | D | W | W | L | L | 1981-09-29 | AFC Bournemouth | A |
| 13 | 4 | Mansfield Town | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | W | W | D | D | L | 1981-09-30 | Torquay United | A |
| 14 | -5 | Aldershot | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 8 | L | D | W | W | L | 1981-09-29 | York City | H |
| 15 | 3 | Hereford United | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 8 | W | L | L | D | W | 1981-10-03 | Hartlepool United | H |
| 16 | -5 | Scunthorpe United | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | L | W | W | L | D | 1981-09-29 | Bury | A |
| 17 | -7 | Hull City | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -1 | 8 | L | D | W | D | W | 1981-09-30 | Hartlepool United | A |
| 18 | -2 | York City | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 | -4 | 6 | L | L | L | L | W | 1981-09-29 | Aldershot | A |
| 19 | 0 | Tranmere Rovers | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -5 | 5 | D | W | L | D | L | 1981-09-29 | Darlington | H |
| 20 | 0 | Rochdale | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 4 | L | D | L | L | W | 1981-09-30 | Bradford City | A |
| 21 | 0 | Halifax Town | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -5 | 3 | L | L | D | L | D | 1981-09-30 | Blackpool | A |
| 22 | 0 | Darlington | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -8 | 3 | L | L | D | L | D | 1981-09-29 | Tranmere Rovers | A |
| 23 | 0 | Northampton Town | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -7 | 2 | L | L | L | D | L | 1981-09-29 | Stockport County | H |
| 24 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | -13 | 0 | L | L | L | L | L | 1981-09-29 | Sheffield United | A |
