| Date | Opponents | Type | Res/KO | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 16 Aug 1980 | Barnsley | League | W 2-1 | Oakwell |
| Tue 19 Aug 1980 | SWINDON TOWN | League | W 1-0 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 23 Aug 1980 | ROTHERHAM UNITED | League | W 3-1 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 30 Aug 1980 | Blackpool | League | W 2-0 | Bloomfield Road |
| Sat 06 Sep 1980 | BRENTFORD | League | L 0-2 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 13 Sep 1980 | Walsall | League | L 0-2 | Fellows Park |
| Tue 16 Sep 1980 | CHARLTON ATHLETIC | League | W 1-0 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 20 Sep 1980 | Hull City | League | L 1-2 | Boothferry Park |
| Sat 27 Sep 1980 | FULHAM | League | W 1-0 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 04 Oct 1980 | CHESTERFIELD | League | W 1-0 | Fratton Park |
| Tue 07 Oct 1980 | Colchester United | League | L 0-1 | Layer Road |
| Sat 11 Oct 1980 | Newport County | League | L 1-2 | Somerton Park |
| Sat 18 Oct 1980 | BURNLEY | League | W 4-2 | Fratton Park |
| Tue 21 Oct 1980 | PLYMOUTH ARGYLE | League | L 1-3 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 25 Oct 1980 | Oxford United | League | W 2-1 | Manor Ground |
| Sat 01 Nov 1980 | CARLISLE UNITED | League | W 2-1 | Fratton Park |
| Tue 04 Nov 1980 | COLCHESTER UNITED | League | W 2-1 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 08 Nov 1980 | Gillingham | League | W 1-0 | Priestfield |
| Tue 11 Nov 1980 | Swindon Town | League | W 2-0 | County Ground |
| Sat 15 Nov 1980 | BARNSLEY | League | L 0-1 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 29 Nov 1980 | CHESTER | League | W 2-0 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 06 Dec 1980 | Sheffield United | League | L 0-1 | Bramall Lane |
| Sat 20 Dec 1980 | Huddersfield Town | League | D 0-0 | Leeds Road |
| Fri 26 Dec 1980 | READING | League | D 0-0 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 27 Dec 1980 | Millwall | League | D 0-0 | The Den (old) |
| Sat 10 Jan 1981 | SHEFFIELD UNITED | League | W 1-0 | Fratton Park |
| Wed 14 Jan 1981 | Exeter City | League | L 0-2 | St. James Park |
| Sat 24 Jan 1981 | BLACKPOOL | League | D 3-3 | Fratton Park |
| Tue 27 Jan 1981 | Burnley | League | W 3-1 | Turf Moor |
| Sat 31 Jan 1981 | Rotherham United | League | L 0-3 | Millmoor |
| Sat 07 Feb 1981 | WALSALL | League | W 2-0 | Fratton Park |
| Tue 10 Feb 1981 | EXETER CITY | League | W 5-0 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 14 Feb 1981 | Brentford | League | D 2-2 | Griffin Park |
| Sat 21 Feb 1981 | Fulham | League | L 0-3 | Craven Cottage |
| Sat 28 Feb 1981 | HULL CITY | League | W 2-1 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 07 Mar 1981 | Chesterfield | League | L 0-3 | Saltergate |
| Sat 14 Mar 1981 | NEWPORT COUNTY | League | D 0-0 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 21 Mar 1981 | Plymouth Argyle | League | L 0-1 | Home Park |
| Sun 29 Mar 1981 | OXFORD UNITED | League | D 1-1 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 04 Apr 1981 | Carlisle United | League | D 0-0 | Brunton Park |
| Sat 11 Apr 1981 | GILLINGHAM | League | D 0-0 | Fratton Park |
| Tue 14 Apr 1981 | Charlton Athletic | League | W 2-1 | The Valley |
| Sat 18 Apr 1981 | MILLWALL | League | W 2-1 | Fratton Park |
| Mon 20 Apr 1981 | Reading | League | L 1-2 | Elm Park |
| Sat 25 Apr 1981 | HUDDERSFIELD TOWN | League | L 1-2 | Fratton Park |
| Sat 02 May 1981 | Chester | League | W 1-0 | Sealand Road |