1981-10-10
| First Division |
| Division 1 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City | 4 | 0 | Southampton | St Andrew's | 16,938 | |
| Worthington 2, Whatmore 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Coventry City | 1 | 1 | Aston Villa | Highfield Road | 16,306 | |
| Hateley | Lineups | Shaw | ||||
| Ipswich Town | 1 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Portman Road | 20,804 | |
| O'Callaghan | Lineups | |||||
| Liverpool | 3 | 0 | Leeds United | Anfield Road | 35,840 | |
| Rush 2, Cherry OG | Lineups | |||||
| Manchester City | 0 | 0 | Manchester United | Maine Road | 52,037 | Largest home gate 1981-82 |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 1 | Nottingham Forest | Ayresome Park | 15,043 | |
| Gunn OG | Lineups | Fashanu | ||||
| Notts County | 2 | 0 | Sunderland | Meadow Lane | 10,668 | |
| Christie 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Swansea City | 2 | 0 | Arsenal | Vetch Field | 20,600 | |
| James L, Thompson | Lineups | |||||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2 | 0 | Stoke City | White Hart Lane | 30,520 | |
| Ardiles, Crooks | Lineups | |||||
| West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | The Hawthorns | 13,893 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| West Ham United | 1 | 1 | Everton | Upton Park | 31,608 | |
| Martin | Lineups | McMahon | ||||
| 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 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 20 | W | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Everton | A |
| 2 | 1 | Swansea City | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 19 | W | D | W | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Stoke City | A |
| 3 | 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 18 | W | W | W | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Sunderland | A |
| 4 | -2 | West Ham United | 9 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 17 | D | D | D | W | D | 1981-10-17 | Aston Villa | A |
| 5 | -1 | Manchester United | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 16 | D | W | W | D | W | 1981-10-17 | Birmingham City | H |
| 6 | 0 | Nottingham Forest | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 15 | D | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Coventry City | H |
| 7 | 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | D | W | L | W | D | 1981-10-17 | Liverpool | H |
| 8 | 5 | Liverpool | 9 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 13 | W | D | D | W | D | 1981-10-17 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A |
| 9 | -2 | Southampton | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 15 | -2 | 13 | L | W | L | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Notts County | H |
| 10 | 4 | Notts County | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -2 | 13 | W | W | L | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Southampton | A |
| 11 | 4 | Birmingham City | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 12 | W | D | D | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Manchester United | A |
| 12 | -3 | Coventry City | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 12 | D | D | W | L | D | 1981-10-17 | Nottingham Forest | A |
| 13 | -3 | Manchester City | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 12 | D | L | L | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Arsenal | A |
| 14 | -3 | Everton | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -1 | 12 | D | L | W | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Ipswich Town | H |
| 15 | -3 | Stoke City | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | L | W | L | D | L | 1981-10-17 | Swansea City | H |
| 16 | 1 | Aston Villa | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 9 | D | D | D | D | D | 1981-10-17 | West Ham United | H |
| 17 | 1 | West Bromwich Albion | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9 | D | W | L | L | D | 1981-10-17 | Leeds United | A |
| 18 | -2 | Arsenal | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 9 | L | L | D | W | D | 1981-10-17 | Manchester City | H |
| 19 | 1 | Middlesbrough | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -8 | 8 | D | L | W | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A |
| 20 | -1 | Sunderland | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | -7 | 7 | L | D | L | L | D | 1981-10-17 | Tottenham Hotspur | H |
| 21 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 13 | -12 | 7 | L | L | W | L | D | 1981-10-17 | Middlesbrough | H |
| 22 | 0 | Leeds United | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 19 | -14 | 6 | L | D | L | L | L | 1981-10-17 | West Bromwich Albion | H |
| Second Division |
| Second Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackburn Rovers | 2 | 1 | Barnsley | Ewood Park | 10,522 | |
| Garner 2 | Lineups | Banks (p) | ||||
| Bolton Wanderers | 0 | 3 | Leicester City | Burnden Park | 7,361 | |
| Lineups | Melrose 2, Young | |||||
| Chelsea | 2 | 0 | Wrexham | Stamford Bridge | 14,170 | |
| Lee, Fillery | Lineups | |||||
| Crystal Palace | 3 | 1 | Rotherham United | Selhurst Park | 8,021 | |
| Smillie, Brooks, Langley | Lineups | Towner | ||||
| Grimsby Town | 1 | 2 | Cambridge United | Blundell Park | 7,450 | |
| Ford | Lineups | Mayo, Streete | ||||
| Newcastle United | 3 | 0 | Derby County | St James' Park | 17,224 | |
| Wharton, Varadi 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Oldham Athletic | 1 | 1 | Luton Town | Boundary Park | 8,403 | |
| Wylde | Lineups | White | ||||
| Queens Park Rangers | 2 | 0 | Norwich City | Loftus Road | 11,806 | |
| Gregory, Stainrod | Lineups | |||||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2 | 1 | Cardiff City | Hillsborough | 15,839 | |
| Taylor, McCulloch | Lineups | Bennett D | ||||
| Shrewsbury Town | 1 | 1 | Charlton Athletic | Gay Meadow | 4,336 | |
| Bates | Lineups | Hales | ||||
| Watford | 3 | 0 | Orient | Vicarage Road | 10,136 | |
| Terry, Barnes 2 | 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 | Luton Town | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 19 | D | W | W | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Grimsby Town | H |
| 2 | 1 | Watford | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 19 | W | W | L | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Cambridge United | A |
| 3 | -1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 19 | W | L | W | L | D | 1981-10-17 | Charlton Athletic | A |
| 4 | 0 | Oldham Athletic | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 16 | D | W | W | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Rotherham United | A |
| 5 | 0 | Chelsea | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 16 | W | L | W | W | D | 1981-10-16 | Leicester City | A |
| 6 | 4 | Newcastle United | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 15 | W | W | L | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Barnsley | A |
| 7 | 2 | Queens Park Rangers | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 15 | W | W | L | L | W | 1981-10-18 | Orient | A |
| 8 | 3 | Leicester City | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 15 | W | D | W | D | L | 1981-10-16 | Chelsea | H |
| 9 | 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 15 | W | L | L | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Derby County | A |
| 10 | -2 | Shrewsbury Town | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -1 | 14 | D | W | W | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Norwich City | A |
| 11 | 3 | Crystal Palace | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 13 | W | D | L | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Wrexham | A |
| 12 | -6 | Grimsby Town | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 13 | L | W | L | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Luton Town | A |
| 13 | -6 | Norwich City | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -3 | 13 | L | L | L | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Shrewsbury Town | H |
| 14 | 4 | Cambridge United | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 12 | W | W | L | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Watford | H |
| 15 | 1 | Charlton Athletic | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -1 | 11 | D | W | L | D | W | 1981-10-17 | Sheffield Wednesday | H |
| 16 | -3 | Barnsley | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 10 | L | L | L | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Newcastle United | H |
| 17 | -2 | Rotherham United | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 11 | -3 | 10 | L | L | W | D | L | 1981-10-17 | Oldham Athletic | H |
| 18 | -1 | Derby County | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | -5 | 10 | L | L | W | L | D | 1981-10-17 | Blackburn Rovers | H |
| 19 | 0 | Wrexham | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | -3 | 7 | L | W | W | L | D | 1981-10-17 | Crystal Palace | H |
| 20 | 0 | Cardiff City | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | -7 | 7 | L | L | W | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Bolton Wanderers | H |
| 21 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -11 | 6 | L | L | W | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Cardiff City | A |
| 22 | 0 | Orient | 9 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | -12 | 4 | L | L | L | L | L | 1981-10-18 | Queens Park Rangers | H |
| Third Division |
| Third Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol City | 0 | 0 | Preston North End | Ashton Gate | 5,389 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Chester | 2 | 2 | Oxford United | Sealand Road | 2,008 | |
| Phillips, Sutcliffe | Lineups | Cassells, Jones | ||||
| Exeter City | 3 | 1 | Brentford | St James Park | 3,589 | |
| Kellow, Cooke, Prince | Lineups | Crown | ||||
| Huddersfield Town | 1 | 0 | Fulham | Leeds Road | 8,258 | |
| Robins | Lineups | |||||
| Lincoln City | 5 | 1 | Wimbledon | Sincil Bank | 3,330 | |
| Cockerill 2, Cunningham, Cammack, Hobson | Lineups | Leslie | ||||
| Newport County | 1 | 0 | Doncaster Rovers | Somerton Park | 4,379 | |
| Gwyther | Lineups | |||||
| Plymouth Argyle | 1 | 2 | Gillingham | Home Park | 3,094 | |
| Phillips | Lineups | Lee, Bowman | ||||
| Portsmouth | 1 | 2 | Burnley | Fratton Park | 9,891 | |
| Doyle (p) | Lineups | Wharton, Young | ||||
| Reading | 0 | 2 | Chesterfield | Elm Park | 4,936 | |
| Lineups | Crawford, Windridge | |||||
| Swindon Town | 2 | 1 | Carlisle United | County Ground | 5,542 | |
| Rideout, Hughes | Lineups | Beardsley | ||||
| 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 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 | W | D | W | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Southend United | H |
| 2 | 3 | Swindon Town | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 17 | W | W | L | L | D | 1981-10-17 | Bristol Rovers | A |
| 3 | -1 | Doncaster Rovers | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 16 | L | W | W | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Millwall | H |
| 4 | -1 | Reading | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 | L | L | D | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Preston North End | A |
| 5 | -1 | Walsall | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 15 | W | W | W | D | W | 1981-10-11 | Millwall | A |
| 6 | 7 | Newport County | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 14 | W | D | L | D | L | 1981-10-17 | Fulham | A |
| 7 | 7 | Gillingham | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 14 | W | W | D | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Huddersfield Town | H |
| 8 | -2 | Bristol Rovers | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 14 | L | W | D | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Swindon Town | H |
| 9 | -2 | Carlisle United | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 14 | L | W | W | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Plymouth Argyle | H |
| 10 | 5 | Lincoln City | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 13 | W | D | L | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Brentford | A |
| 11 | -3 | Millwall | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 13 | L | L | W | W | D | 1981-10-11 | Walsall | H |
| 12 | 4 | Huddersfield Town | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | W | W | L | W | D | 1981-10-17 | Gillingham | A |
| 13 | -4 | Southend United | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 13 | W | W | L | L | D | 1981-10-17 | Chesterfield | A |
| 14 | -2 | Oxford United | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 13 | D | W | W | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Bristol City | H |
| 15 | -5 | Fulham | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -1 | 13 | L | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Newport County | H |
| 16 | 2 | Exeter City | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -3 | 13 | W | W | L | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Burnley | A |
| 17 | -6 | Portsmouth | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 12 | L | D | W | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Walsall | A |
| 18 | -1 | Chester | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 11 | D | W | L | D | D | 1981-10-17 | Wimbledon | A |
| 19 | 1 | Bristol City | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -2 | 10 | D | L | D | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Oxford United | A |
| 20 | -1 | Brentford | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -3 | 9 | L | L | W | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Lincoln City | H |
| 21 | 1 | Burnley | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 11 | -6 | 7 | W | L | L | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Exeter City | H |
| 22 | -1 | Preston North End | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 7 | D | L | L | D | D | 1981-10-17 | Reading | H |
| 23 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -11 | 2 | L | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Carlisle United | A |
| 24 | 0 | Wimbledon | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 13 | -15 | 2 | L | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Chester | H |
| Fourth Division |
| Fourth Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Bournemouth | 1 | 1 | Northampton Town | Dean Court | 5,241 | |
| Morgan | Lineups | Denyer | ||||
| Blackpool | 2 | 1 | Torquay United | Bloomfield Road | 6,716 | |
| Noble, Morris | Lineups | Lawrence | ||||
| Crewe Alexandra | 3 | 0 | Scunthorpe United | Gresty Road | 1,586 | |
| Chesters, Ricketts, Palios | Lineups | |||||
| Hartlepool United | 0 | 1 | Peterborough United | Victoria Park | 2,450 | |
| Lineups | Kellock | |||||
| Hereford United | 2 | 2 | Halifax Town | Edgar Street | 2,359 | |
| Dungworth, Binney | Lineups | Davison, Graham | ||||
| Mansfield Town | 3 | 3 | Hull City | Field Mill | 3,464 | |
| Lumby 2, Caldwell | Lineups | Mutrie (p), Marwood, Deacy | ||||
| Port Vale | 0 | 2 | Sheffield United | Vale Park | 7,289 | |
| Lineups | Edwards, Richardson P | |||||
| Tranmere Rovers | 1 | 3 | Bury | Prenton Park | 1,985 | |
| Hamilton | Lineups | Madden 2, Johnson | ||||
| Wigan Athletic | 2 | 1 | Stockport County | Springfield Park | 4,873 | |
| Houghton, Methven | Lineups | Power | ||||
| 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 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 21 | D | W | D | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Peterborough United | A |
| 2 | 2 | Blackpool | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 19 | W | D | W | W | D | 1981-10-13 | Northampton Town | A |
| 3 | -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 |
| 4 | 1 | Bury | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 19 | W | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Port Vale | H |
| 5 | 1 | Sheffield United | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 19 | W | W | W | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Hartlepool United | H |
| 6 | -3 | Torquay United | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 18 | L | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Tranmere Rovers | H |
| 7 | 3 | Peterborough United | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 15 | W | D | W | D | L | 1981-10-17 | AFC Bournemouth | H |
| 8 | 3 | Wigan Athletic | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 15 | W | W | D | D | W | 1981-10-17 | Hull City | A |
| 9 | -2 | Port Vale | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 15 | L | W | W | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Bury | A |
| 10 | -2 | 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 |
| 11 | -2 | Hartlepool United | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 13 | L | D | W | W | L | 1981-10-17 | Sheffield United | A |
| 12 | 3 | Mansfield Town | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 10 | D | D | L | W | W | 1981-10-17 | Darlington | A |
| 13 | 1 | Hereford United | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 10 | D | D | W | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Scunthorpe United | A |
| 14 | -2 | Stockport County | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | -1 | 10 | L | L | D | L | W | 1981-10-16 | Crewe Alexandra | H |
| 15 | -2 | York City | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -4 | 10 | D | L | W | L | L | 1981-10-16 | Colchester United | A |
| 16 | 0 | Aldershot | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 9 | D | L | L | D | W | 1981-10-11 | Bradford City | A |
| 17 | 1 | Hull City | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | -3 | 9 | D | L | L | L | D | 1981-10-17 | Wigan Athletic | H |
| 18 | -1 | Tranmere Rovers | 9 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -6 | 9 | L | W | D | D | W | 1981-10-17 | Torquay United | A |
| 19 | 0 | Scunthorpe United | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 8 | L | L | L | L | W | 1981-10-17 | Hereford United | H |
| 20 | 1 | Halifax Town | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 15 | -10 | 7 | D | W | L | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Rochdale | H |
| 21 | -1 | Darlington | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -8 | 6 | D | D | D | L | L | 1981-10-17 | Mansfield Town | H |
| 22 | 0 | Rochdale | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 5 | D | L | L | D | L | 1981-10-11 | Colchester United | H |
| 23 | 0 | Northampton Town | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 15 | -11 | 4 | D | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-13 | Blackpool | H |
| 24 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | -16 | 3 | W | L | L | L | L | 1981-10-16 | Stockport County | A |
