1981-10-17
| First Division |
| Division 1 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 1 | 0 | Manchester City | Highbury | 25,466 | |
| Meade | Lineups | |||||
| Aston Villa | 3 | 2 | West Ham United | Villa Park | 32,064 | |
| Morley, Geddis, Mortimer | Lineups | Brooking, Cross | ||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 | 3 | Liverpool | Goldstone Ground | 26,231 | |
| Foster, Case, Ritchie | Lineups | Dalglish, Kennedy R, McDermott | ||||
| Everton | 2 | 1 | Ipswich Town | Goodison Park | 25,146 | |
| Ferguson, Stevens | Lineups | Gates | ||||
| Leeds United | 3 | 1 | West Bromwich Albion | Elland Road | 19,164 | |
| Graham, Cherry, Connor | Lineups | Mills | ||||
| Manchester United | 1 | 1 | Birmingham City | Old Trafford | 48,800 | |
| Coppell | Lineups | Worthington (p) | ||||
| Nottingham Forest | 2 | 1 | Coventry City | City Ground | 20,101 | |
| Wallace 2 | Lineups | Hunt | ||||
| Southampton | 3 | 1 | Notts County | The Dell | 18,900 | |
| Keegan 2, Moran | Lineups | Mair | ||||
| Stoke City | 1 | 2 | Swansea City | Victoria Ground | 14,665 | |
| Griffiths | Lineups | Stanley, Latchford | ||||
| Sunderland | 0 | 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | Roker Park | 25,317 | |
| Lineups | Hazard, Archibald | |||||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 0 | Middlesbrough | Molineux | 12,061 | |
| 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 | 1 | Swansea City | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 22 | W | W | D | W | W | 1981-10-24 | Coventry City | A |
| 2 | 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 21 | W | W | W | W | L | 1981-10-24 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H |
| 3 | -2 | Ipswich Town | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 20 | L | W | L | W | W | 1981-10-24 | Arsenal | H |
| 4 | 2 | Nottingham Forest | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 18 | W | D | L | W | W | 1981-10-24 | Manchester City | A |
| 5 | -1 | West Ham United | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 17 | L | D | D | D | W | 1981-10-24 | Notts County | A |
| 6 | -1 | Manchester United | 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 17 | D | D | W | W | D | 1981-10-21 | Middlesbrough | H |
| 7 | 2 | Southampton | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 16 | W | L | W | L | L | 1981-10-24 | West Bromwich Albion | A |
| 8 | 6 | Everton | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 15 | W | D | L | W | W | 1981-10-24 | Middlesbrough | A |
| 9 | -2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 14 | D | D | W | L | W | 1981-10-24 | Tottenham Hotspur | A |
| 10 | -2 | Liverpool | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 14 | D | W | D | D | W | 1981-10-24 | Manchester United | H |
| 11 | 0 | Birmingham City | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 13 | D | W | D | D | L | 1981-10-24 | Stoke City | A |
| 12 | -2 | Notts County | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 12 | -4 | 13 | L | W | W | L | L | 1981-10-24 | West Ham United | H |
| 13 | 3 | Aston Villa | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 12 | W | D | D | D | D | 1981-10-24 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A |
| 14 | -2 | Coventry City | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 12 | L | D | D | W | L | 1981-10-24 | Swansea City | H |
| 15 | -2 | Manchester City | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | -1 | 12 | L | D | L | L | W | 1981-10-24 | Nottingham Forest | H |
| 16 | 2 | Arsenal | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -2 | 12 | W | L | L | D | W | 1981-10-24 | Ipswich Town | A |
| 17 | -2 | Stoke City | 10 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -1 | 10 | L | L | W | L | D | 1981-10-24 | Birmingham City | H |
| 18 | -1 | West Bromwich Albion | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | -2 | 9 | L | D | W | L | L | 1981-10-24 | Southampton | H |
| 19 | 0 | Middlesbrough | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -8 | 9 | D | D | L | W | L | 1981-10-21 | Manchester United | A |
| 20 | 2 | Leeds United | 11 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 19 | -12 | 9 | W | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-24 | Sunderland | H |
| 21 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 13 | -12 | 8 | D | L | L | W | L | 1981-10-24 | Aston Villa | H |
| 22 | -2 | Sunderland | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | -9 | 7 | L | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-24 | Leeds United | A |
| Second Division |
| Second Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 1 | 0 | Newcastle United | Oakwell | 18,477 | |
| Aylott | Lineups | |||||
| Cambridge United | 1 | 2 | Watford | Abbey Stadium | 7,239 | |
| Mayo | Lineups | Blissett 2 | ||||
| Cardiff City | 2 | 1 | Bolton Wanderers | Ninian Park | 3,874 | |
| Stevens, Bennett D | Lineups | Cantello | ||||
| Charlton Athletic | 3 | 0 | Sheffield Wednesday | The Valley | 8,258 | |
| Walsh 2, Robinson | Lineups | |||||
| Derby County | 1 | 1 | Blackburn Rovers | Baseball Ground | 10,572 | |
| Powell B | Lineups | Keeley | ||||
| Luton Town | 6 | 0 | Grimsby Town | Kenilworth Road | 9,090 | |
| Fuccillo, Moss (p), White 4 | Lineups | |||||
| Norwich City | 2 | 1 | Shrewsbury Town | Carrow Road | 11,979 | |
| Bertschin, Mendham | Lineups | Petts | ||||
| Rotherham United | 1 | 2 | Oldham Athletic | Millmoor | 8,034 | |
| Moore | Lineups | Wylde 2 | ||||
| Wrexham | 0 | 1 | Crystal Palace | Racecourse Ground | 4,795 | |
| Lineups | Lovell | |||||
| 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 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 22 | W | D | W | W | L | 1981-10-24 | Wrexham | A |
| 2 | 0 | Watford | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 22 | W | W | W | L | W | 1981-10-24 | Norwich City | H |
| 3 | 2 | Oldham Athletic | 9 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 19 | W | D | W | W | W | 1981-10-20 | Charlton Athletic | A |
| 4 | -1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 19 | L | W | L | W | L | 1981-10-24 | Oldham Athletic | H |
| 5 | -1 | Chelsea | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 17 | D | W | L | W | W | 1981-10-24 | Barnsley | H |
| 6 | 0 | Leicester City | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 16 | D | W | D | W | D | 1981-10-24 | Queens Park Rangers | A |
| 7 | 4 | Crystal Palace | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 16 | W | W | D | L | W | 1981-10-24 | Derby County | H |
| 8 | 1 | Blackburn Rovers | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 16 | D | W | L | L | W | 1981-10-24 | Grimsby Town | A |
| 9 | 4 | Norwich City | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -2 | 16 | W | L | L | L | W | 1981-10-24 | Watford | A |
| 10 | -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 |
| 11 | -4 | Newcastle United | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 15 | L | W | W | L | W | 1981-10-24 | Rotherham United | H |
| 12 | 3 | Charlton Athletic | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 14 | W | D | W | L | D | 1981-10-20 | Oldham Athletic | H |
| 13 | -3 | Shrewsbury Town | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -2 | 14 | L | D | W | W | L | 1981-10-24 | Cardiff City | A |
| 14 | 2 | Barnsley | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 13 | W | L | L | L | W | 1981-10-24 | Chelsea | A |
| 15 | -3 | Grimsby Town | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 10 | -6 | 13 | L | L | W | L | L | 1981-10-24 | Blackburn Rovers | H |
| 16 | -2 | Cambridge United | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -1 | 12 | L | W | W | L | L | 1981-10-24 | Bolton Wanderers | A |
| 17 | 1 | Derby County | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | -5 | 11 | D | L | L | W | L | 1981-10-24 | Crystal Palace | A |
| 18 | -1 | Rotherham United | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 11 | -4 | 10 | L | L | L | W | D | 1981-10-24 | Newcastle United | A |
| 19 | 1 | Cardiff City | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | -6 | 10 | W | L | L | W | W | 1981-10-24 | Shrewsbury Town | H |
| 20 | -1 | Wrexham | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | -4 | 7 | L | L | W | W | L | 1981-10-24 | Luton Town | H |
| 21 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 9 | -12 | 6 | L | L | L | W | L | 1981-10-24 | Cambridge United | H |
| 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford | 3 | 1 | Lincoln City | Griffin Park | 4,187 | |
| Tucker, Whitehead, Booker | Lineups | Cunningham | ||||
| Bristol Rovers | 1 | 4 | Swindon Town | Eastville | 8,779 | |
| Stephens | Lineups | Rowland 2, Henry, Rideout | ||||
| Burnley | 3 | 3 | Exeter City | Turf Moor | 3,982 | |
| Overson, Taylor, Laws (p) | Lineups | Kellow, Lester, Cooke | ||||
| Carlisle United | 3 | 1 | Plymouth Argyle | Brunton Park | 3,630 | |
| Staniforth 3 (1p) | Lineups | Cook | ||||
| Chesterfield | 1 | 2 | Southend United | Saltergate Recreation Ground | 6,116 | |
| Bonnyman (p) | Lineups | Gray, Greaves | ||||
| Doncaster Rovers | 1 | 0 | Millwall | Belle Vue | 6,466 | |
| Russell | Lineups | |||||
| Fulham | 3 | 1 | Newport County | Craven Cottage | 3,918 | |
| Davies 2, Lewington | Lineups | Tynan | ||||
| Gillingham | 3 | 2 | Huddersfield Town | Priestfield Stadium | 4,432 | |
| Price, Bruce, White | Lineups | Weatherly OG, Hanvey | ||||
| Oxford United | 1 | 0 | Bristol City | Manor Ground | 3,906 | |
| Cassells (p) | Lineups | |||||
| Preston North End | 0 | 0 | Reading | Deepdale | 5,671 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Walsall | 3 | 1 | Portsmouth | Fellows Park | 4,408 | |
| Beech, Serella, Buckley | Lineups | Berry | ||||
| Wimbledon | 1 | 0 | Chester | Plough Lane | 1,659 | |
| Lazarus | 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 | 1 | Swindon Town | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 20 | W | W | W | L | L | 1981-10-20 | Walsall | A |
| 2 | -1 | Chesterfield | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 20 | L | W | D | W | W | 1981-10-21 | Chester | A |
| 3 | 0 | Doncaster Rovers | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 19 | W | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-20 | Lincoln City | H |
| 4 | 2 | Walsall | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 18 | W | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-20 | Swindon Town | H |
| 5 | 3 | Gillingham | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 17 | W | W | W | D | L | 1981-10-20 | Portsmouth | H |
| 6 | 4 | Carlisle United | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 17 | W | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-20 | Huddersfield Town | A |
| 7 | -2 | Reading | 10 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 17 | D | L | L | D | W | 1981-10-20 | Bristol City | A |
| 8 | -4 | Millwall | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 16 | L | W | L | L | W | 1981-10-20 | Newport County | A |
| 9 | 6 | Fulham | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 16 | W | L | L | W | W | 1981-10-20 | Exeter City | H |
| 10 | 3 | Southend United | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 16 | W | W | W | L | L | 1981-10-19 | Brentford | A |
| 11 | 3 | Oxford United | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 16 | W | D | W | W | L | 1981-10-21 | Bristol Rovers | H |
| 12 | -5 | Newport County | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 14 | L | W | D | L | D | 1981-10-20 | Millwall | H |
| 13 | -4 | Bristol Rovers | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | -1 | 14 | L | L | W | D | L | 1981-10-21 | Oxford United | A |
| 14 | 2 | Exeter City | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -3 | 14 | D | W | W | L | W | 1981-10-20 | Fulham | A |
| 15 | -4 | Lincoln City | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 13 | L | W | D | L | W | 1981-10-20 | Doncaster Rovers | A |
| 16 | -4 | Huddersfield Town | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 13 | L | W | W | L | W | 1981-10-20 | Carlisle United | H |
| 17 | 0 | Portsmouth | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 12 | L | L | D | W | W | 1981-10-20 | Gillingham | A |
| 18 | 2 | Brentford | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 12 | W | L | L | W | L | 1981-10-19 | Southend United | H |
| 19 | -1 | Chester | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 11 | L | D | W | L | D | 1981-10-21 | Chesterfield | H |
| 20 | -1 | Bristol City | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -3 | 10 | L | D | L | D | L | 1981-10-20 | Reading | H |
| 21 | 0 | Burnley | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 11 | -6 | 8 | D | W | L | L | L | 1981-10-20 | Preston North End | A |
| 22 | 0 | Preston North End | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 8 | D | D | L | L | D | 1981-10-20 | Burnley | H |
| 23 | 1 | Wimbledon | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 13 | -14 | 5 | W | L | L | D | L | 1981-10-20 | Plymouth Argyle | H |
| 24 | -1 | Plymouth Argyle | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 10 | -13 | 2 | L | L | L | D | L | 1981-10-20 | Wimbledon | A |
| Fourth Division |
| Fourth Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldershot | 3 | 2 | Blackpool | Recreation Ground | 2,600 | |
| Edwards, French 2 | Lineups | Pashley, Bamber | ||||
| Bury | 3 | 2 | Port Vale | Gigg Lane | 3,565 | |
| Johnson 2 (1p), Butler | Lineups | Bowles, Greenhoff | ||||
| Darlington | 1 | 0 | Mansfield Town | Feethams Ground | 1,576 | |
| Hamilton | Lineups | |||||
| Halifax Town | 0 | 0 | Rochdale | The Shay | 2,140 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Hull City | 0 | 2 | Wigan Athletic | Boothferry Park | 3,803 | |
| Lineups | Houghton 2 | |||||
| Northampton Town | 0 | 2 | Bradford City | County Ground | 2,053 | |
| Lineups | Campbell 2 | |||||
| Peterborough United | 1 | 0 | AFC Bournemouth | London Road | 4,673 | |
| Cooke | Lineups | |||||
| Scunthorpe United | 2 | 2 | Hereford United | Old Showground | 1,499 | |
| Grimes, Moss | Lineups | White (p), Binney | ||||
| Sheffield United | 1 | 1 | Hartlepool United | Bramall Lane | 12,752 | |
| Edwards | Lineups | Bird | ||||
| Torquay United | 1 | 2 | Tranmere Rovers | Plainmoor | 3,152 | |
| Lawrence | Lineups | Brown 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 | Bradford City | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 18 | 25 | W | W | W | W | W | 1981-10-19 | Stockport County | A |
| 2 | -1 | Blackpool | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 22 | L | W | W | D | W | 1981-10-20 | York City | A |
| 3 | 2 | Bury | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 22 | W | W | L | W | W | 1981-10-20 | Wigan Athletic | H |
| 4 | -1 | AFC Bournemouth | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 21 | L | D | W | D | W | 1981-10-20 | Aldershot | A |
| 5 | 1 | Sheffield United | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 20 | D | W | W | W | W | 1981-10-20 | Mansfield Town | H |
| 6 | -2 | Colchester United | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 19 | W | W | W | L | L | 1981-10-20 | Hereford United | H |
| 7 | 1 | Peterborough United | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 18 | W | W | D | W | D | 1981-10-19 | Port Vale | A |
| 8 | 1 | Wigan Athletic | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 18 | W | W | W | D | D | 1981-10-20 | Bury | A |
| 9 | -2 | Torquay United | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 18 | L | L | L | W | W | 1981-10-21 | Northampton Town | H |
| 10 | 0 | Port Vale | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 15 | L | L | W | W | W | 1981-10-19 | Peterborough United | H |
| 11 | 1 | Hartlepool United | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 14 | D | L | D | W | W | 1981-10-20 | Tranmere Rovers | A |
| 12 | -1 | Stockport County | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 13 | W | L | L | D | L | 1981-10-19 | Bradford City | H |
| 13 | 4 | Aldershot | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -3 | 12 | W | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-20 | AFC Bournemouth | H |
| 14 | 4 | Tranmere Rovers | 10 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -5 | 12 | W | L | W | D | D | 1981-10-20 | Hartlepool United | H |
| 15 | -1 | Hereford United | 9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 11 | D | D | D | W | L | 1981-10-20 | Colchester United | A |
| 16 | -3 | Mansfield Town | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -1 | 10 | L | D | D | L | W | 1981-10-20 | Sheffield United | A |
| 17 | -2 | York City | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 13 | -8 | 10 | L | D | L | W | L | 1981-10-20 | Blackpool | H |
| 18 | -2 | Hull City | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | -5 | 9 | L | D | L | L | L | 1981-10-20 | Scunthorpe United | A |
| 19 | 2 | Darlington | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -7 | 9 | W | D | D | D | L | 1981-10-20 | Halifax Town | H |
| 20 | -1 | Scunthorpe United | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 9 | D | L | L | L | L | 1981-10-20 | Hull City | H |
| 21 | -1 | Halifax Town | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 15 | -10 | 8 | D | D | W | L | L | 1981-10-20 | Darlington | A |
| 22 | 0 | Rochdale | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 | -11 | 6 | D | L | D | L | L | 1981-10-21 | Crewe Alexandra | A |
| 23 | 0 | Northampton Town | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 15 | -14 | 4 | L | L | D | L | D | 1981-10-21 | Torquay United | A |
| 24 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 16 | -18 | 3 | L | W | L | L | L | 1981-10-21 | Rochdale | H |
