1981-10-31
| First Division |
| Division 1 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 1 | 0 | Coventry City | Highbury | 23,102 | |
| Thomas OG | Lineups | |||||
| Aston Villa | 0 | 1 | Ipswich Town | Villa Park | 32,652 | |
| Lineups | Osman | |||||
| Birmingham City | 3 | 3 | West Bromwich Albion | St Andrew's | 21,601 | |
| Gemmill, Evans, Worthington (p) | Lineups | Regis 3 | ||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 0 | Stoke City | Goldstone Ground | 17,862 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Everton | 0 | 1 | Manchester City | Goodison Park | 31,305 | |
| Lineups | Tueart | |||||
| Manchester United | 2 | 1 | Notts County | Old Trafford | 45,928 | |
| Birtles, Moses | Lineups | McCulloch | ||||
| Nottingham Forest | 2 | 1 | Leeds United | City Ground | 25,272 | |
| Ward, Robertson (p) | Lineups | Butterworth | ||||
| Southampton | 1 | 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | The Dell | 24,131 | |
| Moran | Lineups | Roberts, Corbett | ||||
| Sunderland | 0 | 2 | Liverpool | Roker Park | 27,854 | |
| Lineups | Souness, McDermott | |||||
| Swansea City | 0 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Vetch Field | 17,750 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| West Ham United | 3 | 2 | Middlesbrough | Upton Park | 27,604 | |
| Goddard, Neighbour, Stewart | Lineups | Woof, Thomson (p) | ||||
| 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 | Manchester United | 14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 26 | W | W | W | D | D | 1981-11-07 | Sunderland | A |
| 2 | 0 | Ipswich Town | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 26 | W | W | L | W | L | 1981-11-07 | Swansea City | H |
| 3 | 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 24 | W | L | W | W | W | 1981-11-07 | West Bromwich Albion | H |
| 4 | -1 | Swansea City | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 23 | D | L | W | W | D | 1981-11-07 | Ipswich Town | A |
| 5 | 0 | Nottingham Forest | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 22 | W | D | W | D | L | 1981-11-07 | West Ham United | H |
| 6 | 0 | West Ham United | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 21 | W | D | L | D | D | 1981-11-07 | Nottingham Forest | A |
| 7 | 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 18 | D | W | D | D | W | 1981-11-07 | Birmingham City | H |
| 8 | -1 | Everton | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 18 | L | W | W | D | L | 1981-11-07 | Liverpool | A |
| 9 | 3 | Liverpool | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 17 | W | L | D | W | D | 1981-11-07 | Everton | H |
| 10 | -1 | Southampton | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 16 | -1 | 17 | L | D | W | L | W | 1981-11-07 | Stoke City | A |
| 11 | 5 | Manchester City | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 16 | W | D | L | D | L | 1981-11-07 | Middlesbrough | H |
| 12 | -2 | Aston Villa | 12 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 15 | L | W | W | D | D | 1981-11-07 | Arsenal | H |
| 13 | -2 | Coventry City | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 15 | L | W | L | D | D | 1981-11-07 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A |
| 14 | 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | -2 | 15 | W | L | W | L | L | 1981-11-07 | Aston Villa | A |
| 15 | -1 | Birmingham City | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 14 | D | L | D | W | D | 1981-11-07 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A |
| 16 | -1 | Stoke City | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | D | W | L | L | W | 1981-11-07 | Southampton | H |
| 17 | -4 | Notts County | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 14 | -5 | 14 | L | D | L | W | W | 1981-11-07 | Leeds United | A |
| 18 | 0 | Leeds United | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 21 | -12 | 12 | L | W | W | L | D | 1981-11-07 | Notts County | H |
| 19 | 0 | West Bromwich Albion | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | -2 | 11 | D | D | L | D | W | 1981-11-07 | Tottenham Hotspur | A |
| 20 | 0 | Middlesbrough | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 11 | -12 | 9 | L | L | L | D | D | 1981-11-07 | Manchester City | A |
| 21 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 13 | -15 | 9 | D | L | D | L | L | 1981-11-07 | Coventry City | H |
| 22 | 0 | Sunderland | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -12 | 7 | L | L | L | L | D | 1981-11-07 | Manchester United | H |
| Second Division |
| Second Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 1 | 0 | Orient | Oakwell | 13,435 | |
| Aylott | Lineups | |||||
| Blackburn Rovers | 0 | 0 | Wrexham | Ewood Park | 8,159 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Cambridge United | 2 | 1 | Cardiff City | Abbey Stadium | 4,041 | |
| Spriggs, Gibbins | Lineups | Micallef | ||||
| Charlton Athletic | 1 | 2 | Queens Park Rangers | The Valley | 11,133 | Largest home gate 1981-82 |
| Hales | Lineups | Stainrod, Allen | ||||
| Derby County | 1 | 1 | Grimsby Town | Baseball Ground | 11,706 | |
| Clayton | Lineups | Moore K | ||||
| Leicester City | 0 | 0 | Sheffield Wednesday | Filbert Street | 19,125 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Luton Town | 1 | 0 | Crystal Palace | Kenilworth Road | 11,712 | |
| Moss (p) | Lineups | |||||
| Norwich City | 0 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers | Carrow Road | 12,991 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Oldham Athletic | 3 | 1 | Newcastle United | Boundary Park | 9,010 | |
| Wylde, Heaton, Steel | Lineups | Davies | ||||
| Rotherham United | 6 | 0 | Chelsea | Millmoor | 10,145 | |
| Breckin, Fern 3, Moore 2 (1p) | Lineups | |||||
| Shrewsbury Town | 0 | 2 | Watford | Gay Meadow | 5,672 | |
| Lineups | Jenkins, Barnes | |||||
| 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 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 17 | 28 | W | W | W | D | W | 1981-11-07 | Derby County | H |
| 2 | 0 | Watford | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 28 | W | W | W | W | W | 1981-11-07 | Bolton Wanderers | A |
| 3 | 0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 23 | D | W | L | W | L | 1981-11-07 | Orient | A |
| 4 | 1 | Oldham Athletic | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 22 | W | L | L | W | D | 1981-11-07 | Barnsley | A |
| 5 | -1 | Queens Park Rangers | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 22 | W | W | D | W | W | 1981-11-07 | Rotherham United | H |
| 6 | 3 | Barnsley | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 19 | W | W | W | L | L | 1981-11-07 | Oldham Athletic | H |
| 7 | -1 | Charlton Athletic | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 18 | L | D | W | W | D | 1981-11-07 | Leicester City | H |
| 8 | 6 | Cambridge United | 12 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 18 | W | W | L | W | W | 1981-11-07 | Shrewsbury Town | H |
| 9 | -1 | Blackburn Rovers | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 18 | D | D | D | W | L | 1981-11-07 | Crystal Palace | A |
| 10 | 1 | Leicester City | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 17 | D | L | D | W | D | 1981-11-07 | Charlton Athletic | A |
| 11 | -4 | Chelsea | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | -3 | 17 | L | L | D | W | L | 1981-11-07 | Newcastle United | H |
| 12 | 1 | Norwich City | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 14 | -5 | 17 | D | L | W | L | L | 1981-11-07 | Cardiff City | A |
| 13 | -3 | Newcastle United | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 16 | L | D | L | W | W | 1981-11-07 | Chelsea | A |
| 14 | -2 | Crystal Palace | 12 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 16 | L | L | W | W | D | 1981-11-07 | Blackburn Rovers | H |
| 15 | 1 | Derby County | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | -4 | 15 | D | W | D | L | L | 1981-11-07 | Luton Town | A |
| 16 | -1 | Shrewsbury Town | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | -4 | 15 | L | D | L | D | W | 1981-11-07 | Cambridge United | A |
| 17 | 0 | Grimsby Town | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -6 | 15 | D | D | L | L | W | 1981-11-07 | Wrexham | A |
| 18 | 0 | Rotherham United | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 14 | W | D | L | L | L | 1981-11-07 | Queens Park Rangers | A |
| 19 | 0 | Cardiff City | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 9 | -7 | 11 | L | D | W | L | L | 1981-11-04 | Wrexham | H |
| 20 | 0 | Wrexham | 11 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | -6 | 8 | D | L | L | L | W | 1981-11-04 | Cardiff City | A |
| 21 | 1 | Bolton Wanderers | 12 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | -13 | 7 | D | L | L | L | L | 1981-11-07 | Watford | H |
| 22 | -1 | Orient | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 9 | -13 | 6 | L | D | D | L | L | 1981-11-07 | Sheffield Wednesday | H |
| Third Division |
| Third Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford | 0 | 0 | Burnley | Griffin Park | 6,929 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Bristol City | 0 | 0 | Chesterfield | Ashton Gate | 8,442 | |
| Lineups | ||||||
| Chester | 2 | 3 | Reading | Sealand Road | 1,886 | |
| Phillips, Needham | Lineups | Kearney, Webb (p), Dixon | ||||
| Doncaster Rovers | 4 | 2 | Bristol Rovers | Belle Vue | 6,694 | |
| Pugh DJ, Lister, Douglas, Snodin G | Lineups | Mabbutt, Stephens | ||||
| Fulham | 1 | 1 | Portsmouth | Craven Cottage | 7,542 | |
| Wilson | Lineups | Hemmerman | ||||
| Gillingham | 1 | 0 | Swindon Town | Priestfield Stadium | 8,410 | |
| White | Lineups | |||||
| Huddersfield Town | 1 | 2 | Millwall | Leeds Road | 8,546 | |
| Robins | Lineups | Warman, Chatterton | ||||
| Newport County | 2 | 0 | Carlisle United | Somerton Park | 3,972 | |
| Elsey 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Oxford United | 1 | 1 | Lincoln City | Manor Ground | 4,163 | |
| Thomas | Lineups | Bell | ||||
| Preston North End | 1 | 0 | Southend United | Deepdale | 4,487 | |
| Pountney OG | Lineups | |||||
| Walsall | 0 | 1 | Plymouth Argyle | Fellows Park | 4,549 | |
| Lineups | Sims | |||||
| Wimbledon | 1 | 1 | Exeter City | Plough Lane | 2,152 | |
| Lazarus | Lineups | Lester | ||||
| 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 | Doncaster Rovers | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 26 | W | D | W | W | L | 1981-11-03 | Carlisle United | A |
| 2 | 1 | Gillingham | 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 26 | W | W | W | W | W | 1981-11-02 | Southend United | A |
| 3 | -2 | Chesterfield | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 24 | D | L | W | L | W | 1981-11-03 | Huddersfield Town | H |
| 4 | 5 | Reading | 13 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 23 | W | W | L | D | L | 1981-11-04 | Walsall | H |
| 5 | -1 | Walsall | 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 21 | L | L | W | W | L | 1981-11-04 | Reading | A |
| 6 | -1 | Swindon Town | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 21 | L | D | L | W | W | 1981-11-03 | Brentford | H |
| 7 | -1 | Fulham | 13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 21 | D | D | W | W | L | 1981-11-03 | Plymouth Argyle | A |
| 8 | 0 | Oxford United | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 21 | D | W | D | W | D | 1981-11-04 | Exeter City | A |
| 9 | 3 | Millwall | 13 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 20 | W | L | D | L | W | 1981-11-03 | Bristol City | H |
| 10 | -3 | Carlisle United | 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 20 | L | W | L | W | L | 1981-11-03 | Doncaster Rovers | H |
| 11 | 3 | Newport County | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 19 | W | D | D | L | W | 1981-11-03 | Bristol Rovers | A |
| 12 | -2 | Southend United | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 19 | L | L | W | W | W | 1981-11-02 | Gillingham | H |
| 13 | -2 | Bristol Rovers | 13 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 9 | -2 | 18 | L | W | D | L | L | 1981-11-03 | Newport County | H |
| 14 | -1 | Exeter City | 13 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 16 | -5 | 18 | D | W | L | D | W | 1981-11-04 | Oxford United | H |
| 15 | 1 | Bristol City | 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 17 | D | W | W | L | D | 1981-11-03 | Millwall | A |
| 16 | 1 | Brentford | 13 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 16 | D | W | L | W | L | 1981-11-03 | Swindon Town | A |
| 17 | -2 | Huddersfield Town | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | -1 | 16 | L | L | W | L | W | 1981-11-03 | Chesterfield | A |
| 18 | 0 | Lincoln City | 13 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 14 | D | L | L | L | W | 1981-11-04 | Preston North End | H |
| 19 | 0 | Portsmouth | 13 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 13 | -2 | 14 | D | D | L | L | L | 1981-11-03 | Wimbledon | H |
| 20 | 2 | Preston North End | 13 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | -6 | 12 | W | L | D | D | D | 1981-11-04 | Lincoln City | A |
| 21 | 0 | Burnley | 13 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 12 | -6 | 11 | D | D | D | D | W | 1981-11-03 | Chester | H |
| 22 | -2 | Chester | 12 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | -8 | 11 | L | L | L | L | D | 1981-11-03 | Burnley | A |
| 23 | 0 | Wimbledon | 13 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 15 | -14 | 9 | D | L | W | W | L | 1981-11-03 | Portsmouth | A |
| 24 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | 13 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 12 | -9 | 8 | W | W | L | L | L | 1981-11-03 | Fulham | H |
| Fourth Division |
| Fourth Division | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldershot | 1 | 2 | Hartlepool United | Recreation Ground | 2,658 | |
| Sanford | Lineups | Newton, Linacre J | ||||
| Bury | 7 | 1 | Northampton Town | Gigg Lane | 3,459 | |
| Johnson 2, Madden 3, Howard, Hilton P | Lineups | Phillips (p) | ||||
| Crewe Alexandra | 0 | 1 | Halifax Town | Gresty Road | 2,291 | |
| Lineups | Allatt | |||||
| Darlington | 2 | 0 | Rochdale | Feethams Ground | 1,454 | |
| Wicks, Hamilton | Lineups | |||||
| Port Vale | 2 | 1 | Hull City | Vale Park | 2,591 | |
| Shankland, Chamberlain M | Lineups | Mutrie | ||||
| Scunthorpe United | 0 | 1 | Peterborough United | Old Showground | 2,104 | |
| Lineups | Syrett | |||||
| Sheffield United | 3 | 1 | Blackpool | Bramall Lane | 15,566 | |
| Hatton 2, Trusson | Lineups | McEwan | ||||
| Torquay United | 2 | 0 | Bradford City | Plainmoor | 3,253 | |
| Cooper 2 | Lineups | |||||
| Tranmere Rovers | 0 | 1 | AFC Bournemouth | Prenton Park | 1,730 | |
| Lineups | Heffernan | |||||
| York City | 3 | 4 | Hereford United | Bootham Crescent | 1,600 | |
| Pollard, Ford, Hedley | Lineups | Laidlaw, Dungworth 2, Phillips | ||||
| 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 | Sheffield United | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 15 | 29 | W | W | W | D | W | 1981-11-03 | Northampton Town | A |
| 2 | 3 | Bury | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 28 | W | L | W | W | W | 1981-11-04 | Blackpool | A |
| 3 | -2 | Bradford City | 13 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 28 | L | L | W | W | W | 1981-11-04 | Port Vale | H |
| 4 | 2 | Peterborough United | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 27 | W | W | L | W | W | 1981-11-04 | Aldershot | H |
| 5 | 3 | AFC Bournemouth | 13 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 27 | W | W | L | L | D | 1981-11-03 | Scunthorpe United | H |
| 6 | -2 | Colchester United | 13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 25 | L | W | W | W | W | 1981-11-02 | Mansfield Town | A |
| 7 | -4 | Blackpool | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 25 | L | W | L | W | W | 1981-11-04 | Bury | H |
| 8 | -1 | Wigan Athletic | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 24 | W | W | L | W | W | 1981-11-04 | Darlington | H |
| 9 | 0 | Torquay United | 13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 23 | W | D | D | L | L | 1981-11-03 | Halifax Town | A |
| 10 | 0 | Aldershot | 13 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 12 | -1 | 18 | L | W | W | W | L | 1981-11-04 | Peterborough United | A |
| 11 | 1 | Hartlepool United | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 18 | W | D | L | D | L | 1981-11-04 | Crewe Alexandra | H |
| 12 | 1 | Port Vale | 12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | -1 | 18 | W | L | L | L | W | 1981-11-04 | Bradford City | A |
| 13 | -2 | Stockport County | 13 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 16 | W | L | L | W | L | 1981-11-04 | Hereford United | A |
| 14 | 2 | Hereford United | 13 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 16 | -5 | 15 | W | L | D | L | D | 1981-11-04 | Stockport County | H |
| 15 | -1 | Tranmere Rovers | 13 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | -6 | 15 | L | L | W | W | L | 1981-11-03 | Rochdale | A |
| 16 | 2 | Darlington | 13 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -5 | 14 | W | D | D | W | D | 1981-11-04 | Wigan Athletic | A |
| 17 | -2 | York City | 13 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 13 | -12 | 13 | L | W | L | L | D | 1981-11-03 | Hull City | A |
| 18 | -1 | Rochdale | 13 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 14 | -9 | 12 | L | W | W | D | L | 1981-11-03 | Tranmere Rovers | H |
| 19 | 3 | Halifax Town | 13 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 16 | -11 | 12 | W | L | D | D | D | 1981-11-03 | Torquay United | H |
| 20 | -1 | Hull City | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 18 | -7 | 10 | L | L | D | L | D | 1981-11-03 | York City | H |
| 21 | -1 | Mansfield Town | 13 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 13 | -8 | 10 | L | L | L | L | D | 1981-11-02 | Colchester United | H |
| 22 | -1 | Scunthorpe United | 13 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 12 | -11 | 10 | L | L | D | D | L | 1981-11-03 | AFC Bournemouth | A |
| 23 | 0 | Northampton Town | 14 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 24 | -19 | 8 | L | W | D | L | L | 1981-11-03 | Sheffield United | H |
| 24 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | 13 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 16 | -19 | 6 | L | W | L | L | W | 1981-11-04 | Hartlepool United | A |
