1981-10-03
| First Division |
| Division 1 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City | 2 | 2 | West Ham United | St Andrew's | 22,290 | |
| Langan, Dillon | Lineups | Cross 2 | ||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 4 | 1 | Manchester City | Goldstone Ground | 18,300 | |
| Robinson, Ritchie 2, Williams | Lineups | Reeves | ||||
| Leeds United | 1 | 1 | Aston Villa | Elland Road | 21,065 | |
| Balcombe | Lineups | Shaw | ||||
| Liverpool | 2 | 2 | Swansea City | Anfield Road | 48,645 | |
| McDermott 2 (2p) | Lineups | James L (p), Latchford | ||||
| Manchester United | 5 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Old Trafford | 46,837 | |
| McIlroy 3, Birtles, Stapleton | Lineups | |||||
| Notts County | 2 | 1 | Arsenal | Meadow Lane | 10,785 | |
| Hunt, Kilcline | Lineups | Hawley | ||||
| Southampton | 4 | 3 | Ipswich Town | The Dell | 22,557 | |
| Armstrong 2, Keegan, Moran | Lineups | Wark 2 (1p), Mariner | ||||
| Stoke City | 3 | 1 | Everton | Victoria Ground | 16,007 | |
| Chapman 2, Maguire | Lineups | McBride | ||||
| Sunderland | 0 | 0 | Coventry City | Roker Park | 19,269 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 0 | Nottingham Forest | White Hart Lane | 34,870 | |
| Hazard, Falco 2 | Lineups | |||||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2 | 0 | Middlesbrough | The Hawthorns | 12,977 | |
| Regis, Summerfield | 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 | Ipswich Town | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 17 | L | W | W | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H |
| 2 | 0 | West Ham United | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 16 | D | D | W | D | W | 1981-10-10 | Everton | H |
| 3 | 0 | Swansea City | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 16 | D | W | W | L | W | 1981-10-10 | Arsenal | H |
| 4 | 1 | Manchester United | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 15 | W | W | D | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Manchester City | A |
| 5 | 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 15 | W | W | L | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Stoke City | H |
| 6 | -2 | Nottingham Forest | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 14 | L | W | W | W | D | 1981-10-10 | Middlesbrough | A |
| 7 | 3 | Southampton | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 13 | W | L | L | W | D | 1981-10-10 | Birmingham City | A |
| 8 | 3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 | W | L | W | D | D | 1981-10-10 | West Bromwich Albion | A |
| 9 | 0 | Coventry City | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 11 | D | W | L | D | W | 1981-10-10 | Aston Villa | H |
| 10 | -3 | Manchester City | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 11 | L | L | W | L | D | 1981-10-10 | Manchester United | H |
| 11 | -3 | Everton | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -1 | 11 | L | W | W | L | D | 1981-10-10 | West Ham United | A |
| 12 | 3 | Stoke City | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 10 | W | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-10 | Tottenham Hotspur | A |
| 13 | -1 | Liverpool | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 10 | D | D | W | D | L | 1981-10-10 | Leeds United | H |
| 14 | 3 | Notts County | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -4 | 10 | W | L | L | L | L | 1981-10-10 | Sunderland | H |
| 15 | -1 | Birmingham City | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 9 | D | D | L | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Southampton | H |
| 16 | -3 | Arsenal | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 9 | L | D | W | D | D | 1981-10-10 | Swansea City | A |
| 17 | -1 | Aston Villa | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 8 | D | D | D | D | D | 1981-10-10 | Coventry City | A |
| 18 | 3 | West Bromwich Albion | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 8 | W | L | L | D | D | 1981-10-10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H |
| 19 | 1 | Sunderland | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -5 | 7 | D | L | L | D | D | 1981-10-10 | Notts County | A |
| 20 | -2 | Middlesbrough | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -8 | 7 | L | W | L | L | W | 1981-10-10 | Nottingham Forest | H |
| 21 | -2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 7 | L | W | L | D | L | 1981-10-10 | Ipswich Town | A |
| 22 | 0 | Leeds United | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 16 | -11 | 6 | D | L | L | L | D | 1981-10-10 | Liverpool | A |
| Second Division |
| Second Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolton Wanderers | 1 | 2 | Grimsby Town | Burnden Park | 7,217 | |
| Thomas | Lineups | Drinkell, Mitchell | ||||
| Cambridge United | 1 | 0 | Chelsea | Abbey Stadium | 8,806 | |
| Reilly | Lineups | |||||
| Cardiff City | 0 | 4 | Newcastle United | Ninian Park | 5,758 | |
| Lineups | Varadi 3, Davies (p) | |||||
| Charlton Athletic | 2 | 1 | Derby County | The Valley | 6,686 | |
| Hales 2 | Lineups | Emson | ||||
| Leicester City | 1 | 1 | Crystal Palace | Filbert Street | 12,558 | |
| Lineker | Lineups | Hilaire | ||||
| Norwich City | 1 | 2 | Oldham Athletic | Carrow Road | 13,710 | |
| Jack (p) | Lineups | McDonough, Heaton | ||||
| Orient | 0 | 3 | Luton Town | Brisbane Road | 5,084 | |
| Lineups | Aizlewood, Hill, White | |||||
| Queens Park Rangers | 2 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers | Loftus Road | 9,541 | |
| Gregory, Allen | Lineups | |||||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | 3 | Wrexham | Hillsborough | 18,526 | |
| Lineups | McNeil 2 (1p), Hunt | |||||
| Shrewsbury Town | 2 | 1 | Rotherham United | Gay Meadow | 4,646 | |
| Biggins, McNally | Lineups | Forrest | ||||
| Watford | 3 | 1 | Barnsley | Vicarage Road | 10,827 | |
| Poskett, Barnes, Jackett | Lineups | Aylott | ||||
| 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 | Luton Town | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 18 | W | W | L | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Oldham Athletic | A |
| 2 | -1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 16 | L | W | L | D | W | 1981-10-10 | Cardiff City | H |
| 3 | 2 | Watford | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 16 | W | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Orient | H |
| 4 | 2 | Oldham Athletic | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 15 | W | W | W | W | D | 1981-10-10 | Luton Town | H |
| 5 | -2 | Chelsea | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13 | L | W | W | D | L | 1981-10-10 | Wrexham | H |
| 6 | 4 | Grimsby Town | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 13 | W | L | L | L | W | 1981-10-10 | Cambridge United | H |
| 7 | -3 | Norwich City | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -1 | 13 | L | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Queens Park Rangers | A |
| 8 | 5 | Shrewsbury Town | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -1 | 13 | W | W | L | W | D | 1981-10-10 | Charlton Athletic | H |
| 9 | 5 | Queens Park Rangers | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 12 | W | L | L | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Norwich City | H |
| 10 | 6 | Newcastle United | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 12 | W | L | W | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Derby County | H |
| 11 | -3 | Leicester City | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 12 | D | W | D | L | L | 1981-10-10 | Bolton Wanderers | A |
| 12 | -5 | Blackburn Rovers | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 12 | L | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Barnsley | H |
| 13 | -4 | Barnsley | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 10 | L | L | W | L | W | 1981-10-10 | Blackburn Rovers | A |
| 14 | 1 | Crystal Palace | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 10 | D | L | W | L | W | 1981-10-10 | Rotherham United | H |
| 15 | -4 | Rotherham United | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8 | -1 | 10 | L | W | D | L | W | 1981-10-10 | Crystal Palace | A |
| 16 | 2 | Charlton Athletic | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -1 | 10 | W | L | D | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Shrewsbury Town | A |
| 17 | -5 | Derby County | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | -2 | 10 | L | W | L | D | W | 1981-10-10 | Newcastle United | A |
| 18 | 1 | Cambridge United | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | -1 | 9 | W | L | L | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Grimsby Town | A |
| 19 | 2 | Wrexham | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | -1 | 7 | W | W | L | D | L | 1981-10-10 | Chelsea | A |
| 20 | -3 | Cardiff City | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | -6 | 7 | L | W | W | L | L | 1981-10-10 | Sheffield Wednesday | A |
| 21 | -1 | Bolton Wanderers | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -8 | 6 | L | W | L | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Leicester City | H |
| 22 | 0 | Orient | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -9 | 4 | L | L | L | L | D | 1981-10-10 | Watford | A |
| Third Division |
| Third Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford | 1 | 2 | Carlisle United | Griffin Park | 4,587 | |
| Johnson G | Lineups | Lee, Staniforth | ||||
| Bristol City | 0 | 1 | Walsall | Ashton Gate | 6,033 | |
| Lineups | Penn | |||||
| Burnley | 0 | 2 | Swindon Town | Turf Moor | 3,377 | |
| Lineups | Rowland, Greenwood | |||||
| Chesterfield | 2 | 2 | Portsmouth | Saltergate Recreation Ground | 6,169 | |
| Windridge, Ridley | Lineups | Hemmerman, Tait | ||||
| Exeter City | 5 | 4 | Millwall | St James Park | 7,169 | |
| Kellow, Lester 3, Rogers P | Lineups | Horrix, Anderson, Tagg, Chatterton (p) | ||||
| Lincoln City | 2 | 2 | Newport County | Sincil Bank | 3,484 | |
| Cunningham, Hobson | Lineups | Tynan 2 | ||||
| Oxford United | 2 | 0 | Fulham | Manor Ground | 4,244 | |
| Foley, Thomas | Lineups | |||||
| Preston North End | 0 | 1 | Bristol Rovers | Deepdale | 4,964 | |
| Lineups | Stephens | |||||
| Reading | 1 | 2 | Huddersfield Town | Elm Park | 5,218 | |
| Heale | Lineups | Kindon (p), Hicks OG | ||||
| Southend United | 3 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | Roots Hall | 3,847 | |
| Pennyfather, Mercer, Nelson | Lineups | |||||
| Wimbledon | 0 | 2 | Gillingham | Plough Lane | 2,510 | |
| Lineups | Bowman 2 (1p) | |||||
| 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 | Chesterfield | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 17 | D | W | W | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Reading | A |
| 2 | 0 | Doncaster Rovers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 16 | W | W | W | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Newport County | A |
| 3 | 0 | Reading | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 16 | L | D | W | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Chesterfield | H |
| 4 | 2 | Walsall | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 15 | W | W | W | D | W | 1981-10-11 | Millwall | A |
| 5 | 2 | Swindon Town | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 14 | W | L | L | D | W | 1981-10-10 | Carlisle United | H |
| 6 | 3 | Bristol Rovers | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 14 | W | D | L | W | W | 1981-10-09 | Southend United | A |
| 7 | 3 | Carlisle United | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 14 | W | W | W | L | D | 1981-10-10 | Swindon Town | A |
| 8 | -4 | Millwall | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 13 | L | L | W | W | D | 1981-10-11 | Walsall | H |
| 9 | -4 | Fulham | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 13 | L | W | W | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Huddersfield Town | A |
| 10 | -2 | Portsmouth | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 12 | D | W | W | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Burnley | H |
| 11 | 5 | Oxford United | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | W | W | L | L | L | 1981-10-10 | Chester | A |
| 12 | -1 | Newport County | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 11 | D | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-10 | Doncaster Rovers | H |
| 13 | 4 | Gillingham | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 11 | W | D | L | W | D | 1981-10-10 | Plymouth Argyle | A |
| 14 | -1 | Lincoln City | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 10 | D | L | W | L | D | 1981-10-10 | Wimbledon | H |
| 15 | 3 | Huddersfield Town | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | W | L | W | D | D | 1981-10-10 | Fulham | H |
| 16 | -4 | Chester | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | W | L | D | D | W | 1981-10-10 | Oxford United | H |
| 17 | 2 | Southend United | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -1 | 10 | W | L | L | D | W | 1981-10-09 | Bristol Rovers | H |
| 18 | 2 | Exeter City | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -5 | 10 | W | L | W | L | L | 1981-10-10 | Brentford | H |
| 19 | -5 | Brentford | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | -1 | 9 | L | W | L | L | D | 1981-10-10 | Exeter City | A |
| 20 | -5 | Bristol City | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -2 | 9 | L | D | L | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Preston North End | H |
| 21 | 0 | Preston North End | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 6 | L | L | D | D | D | 1981-10-10 | Bristol City | A |
| 22 | 0 | Burnley | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 10 | -7 | 4 | L | L | L | L | D | 1981-10-10 | Portsmouth | A |
| 23 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -10 | 2 | L | D | L | L | D | 1981-10-10 | Gillingham | H |
| 24 | 0 | Wimbledon | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -11 | 2 | L | D | L | L | L | 1981-10-10 | Lincoln City | A |
| Fourth Division |
| Fourth Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington | 0 | 0 | Peterborough United | Feethams Ground | 1,628 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Halifax Town | 2 | 1 | Bury | The Shay | 2,420 | |
| Allatt, Graham | Lineups | Madden | ||||
| Hereford United | 1 | 1 | Hartlepool United | Edgar Street | 2,247 | |
| Overson | Lineups | Bird | ||||
| Hull City | 1 | 2 | Tranmere Rovers | Boothferry Park | 3,087 | |
| Whitehurst | Lineups | Mountfield, Williams | ||||
| Mansfield Town | 2 | 2 | Blackpool | Field Mill | 3,466 | |
| Bird, Caldwell | Lineups | Hockaday, McEwan (p) | ||||
| Scunthorpe United | 1 | 3 | Bradford City | Old Showground | 3,239 | |
| Grimes | Lineups | Gallagher, Partridge OG, McNiven | ||||
| Stockport County | 1 | 2 | AFC Bournemouth | Edgeley Park | 2,718 | |
| Power | Lineups | Funnell 2 | ||||
| Wigan Athletic | 1 | 0 | Torquay United | Springfield Park | 4,876 | |
| Houghton | Lineups | |||||
| York City | 3 | 4 | Sheffield United | Bootham Crescent | 5,560 | Largest home gate 1981-82 |
| Walwyn, Ford, McDonald (p) | Lineups | Hatton, Kenworthy (p), Trusson 2 | ||||
| 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 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 20 | W | D | W | W | D | 1981-10-10 | Northampton Town | H |
| 2 | 1 | Bradford City | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 13 | 19 | W | W | W | W | W | 1981-10-11 | Aldershot | H |
| 3 | -2 | Torquay United | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 18 | L | W | W | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Blackpool | A |
| 4 | 1 | Blackpool | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 16 | D | W | W | D | D | 1981-10-10 | Torquay United | H |
| 5 | -1 | Bury | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 16 | L | W | W | W | D | 1981-10-10 | Tranmere Rovers | A |
| 6 | 1 | Sheffield United | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 16 | W | W | W | L | L | 1981-10-10 | Port Vale | A |
| 7 | -1 | Colchester United | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 13 | W | L | L | D | W | 1981-10-11 | Rochdale | A |
| 8 | 1 | Hartlepool United | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 13 | D | W | W | L | W | 1981-10-10 | Peterborough United | H |
| 9 | 1 | Peterborough United | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 12 | D | W | D | L | W | 1981-10-10 | Hartlepool United | A |
| 10 | 2 | Wigan Athletic | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 12 | W | D | D | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Stockport County | H |
| 11 | -3 | Port Vale | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 12 | W | W | L | W | D | 1981-10-06 | Crewe Alexandra | A |
| 12 | -1 | Stockport County | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | L | D | L | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Wigan Athletic | A |
| 13 | 1 | Hereford United | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 9 | D | W | L | L | D | 1981-10-10 | Halifax Town | H |
| 14 | 1 | Mansfield Town | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 9 | D | L | W | W | D | 1981-10-10 | Hull City | H |
| 15 | -2 | York City | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -4 | 9 | L | W | L | L | L | 1981-10-09 | Darlington | H |
| 16 | 3 | Tranmere Rovers | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -4 | 9 | W | D | D | W | L | 1981-10-10 | Bury | H |
| 17 | -1 | Aldershot | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 8 | L | L | D | W | W | 1981-10-04 | Rochdale | A |
| 18 | -1 | Hull City | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -3 | 8 | L | L | L | D | W | 1981-10-10 | Mansfield Town | A |
| 19 | -1 | Scunthorpe United | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 8 | L | L | L | W | W | 1981-10-10 | Crewe Alexandra | A |
| 20 | 3 | Halifax Town | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | -10 | 6 | W | L | L | L | D | 1981-10-10 | Hereford United | A |
| 21 | -1 | Darlington | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -8 | 5 | D | D | L | L | D | 1981-10-09 | York City | A |
| 22 | -1 | Rochdale | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 4 | L | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-04 | Aldershot | H |
| 23 | -1 | Northampton Town | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 14 | -11 | 3 | L | D | L | L | L | 1981-10-10 | AFC Bournemouth | A |
| 24 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | -17 | 0 | L | L | L | L | L | 1981-10-06 | Port Vale | H |
