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Alexander brought on defender Nathan Peat and Marcus Richardson for industrious strikers Simon Yeo and Martin Carruthers in a move that did not go down well with the home fans. Just 90 seconds later Orient drew level for the third time through Lee Steele. Steele then slotted home a last-minute winner to send Lincoln crashing to their third home league defeat of the season.
"I heard one or two supporters having a go at me for the substitition, but Yeo and Carruthers were very tired and I had to make a change because they couldn't get around the pitch."
It seemed the first 70 minutes of the encouter had revolved around the pair who certainly had Orient backpedalling on many occasions. Yeo in particular gave the Orient back line a torrid time. However Alexander didn't see the change as a crucial decision gone wrong.
"That's not why we lost the game. It was a ball into the box to make it 3-3 that we should have defended. They got their head on it and scored. It's nothing to do with substitutions - we weren't good enough on the day. I felt we battled well against a good side, but it got a bit too much for us in certain areas of the park - that's the top and bottom of it."
Alexander also went on to sum up the thoughts of 3,500 other people who witnessed the classic encounter.
"We've scored three times at home and we should be winning from there."
Lifelong City fan Paul Stimpson told lincolncity-mad that it was time for change.
"Alexander has done well for us for the past two years, but City fans always live in the past. The changes were poor on Saturday as they were on Tuesday night. Its not one point gained but five points lost and thats Alexanders fault"
Against Rochdale Alexander brought off Carruthers and Yeo with the Imps one up in a game that ended 1-1.
"Everyone else can see that the changes aren't working so why can't Alexander? He may have an eye for spotting talent in players but tactically he's way off the mark."
However the defeat against Orient may have been City's third home reverse this campaign, but it was their first loss in eight games. The result could have gone either way as City brimmed with confidence and penache going forward but looked shaky and uncertain at the back. Had strikers taken their chances City would have won by 9-6. Calls for Alexanders head once again seem premature after the last two seasons, and fans will do well to remember where we were in the summer of 2002 before Alexander took the helm.