"The biggest fear after Tuesday's match with Manchester United was tired legs and after the Lord Mayor's show it could have gone flat," said Tilson, who was happy to settle for a point even though his side's desperate search for a league win continues.
After dumping holders United out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday, the Shrimpers might have hoped the 1-0 win would kick-start their season.
But despite matching Preston throughout the match, Southend were unable to stop their league run without a win reaching 13 games.
Southend created the better chances in an open first half, with left-back Steven Hammell forcing a save out of Preston goalkeeper Carlo Nash with a 35 yard free kick after 11 minutes.
Mark Gower then set-up Freddy Eastwood, the goal hero of the win over Manchester United, but Nash parried his 16-yard shot on 24 minutes.
The ball fell to Eastwood's strike partner Matt Harrold but the former Yeovil forward saw his follow-up blocked by centre-back Liam Chilvers.
Eastwood was then denied by the woodwork on the half hour mark after being set-up by Harrold. His driven shot from 15 yards rocked the crossbar but went out for a goal-kick.
Preston struggled to get a shot on target early on, although only a superb tackle from Simon Francis after 14 minutes denied David Nugent when he was clear through on goal.
The visitors had to wait until the 39th minute for their first opportunity to test homekeeper Darryl Flahavan.
The goalie, whose fine saves kept Cristiano Ronaldo at bay in the Carling Cup palmed out Preston skipper Graham Alexander's 25 yard effort and from the resulting Simon Whaley corner left winger Danny Pugh saw his shot from 16 yards held by Flahavan.
After the half-time break Preston picked up where they left off with Paul McKenna's low 18-yard shot forcing a save out of Flahavan.
Nugent did get the ball in the back of the net after 52 minutes but referee Darren Deadman ruled the effort out for a foul on Flahavan by Daniele Dichio.
Southend responded with Gower's rising shot deflected just wide of the right post. From the resulting Hammell corner on the hour mark, Sodje stabbed the ball goalwards only for Matty Hill to head clear on the line.
The hosts continued to press for a goal with Gower again shooting wide and Eastwood heading narrowly off target.
Chris Sedgwick nearly made the breakthrough for Preston following a good run from substitute striker Patrick Agyemang but he flashed his 25-yard shot wide.
But it was Eastwood who nearly had the final word in stoppage time when he beat two Preston defenders only to fire a tame shot off target.
Tilson was a happy man after seeing his side end their run of four home defeats in the league.
"The lads showed plenty of commitment and desire today and on the balance of play a point was a fair result.
"But the biggest plus was that we kept a clean sheet for the second game and if you do that you give yourself a platform to build on."
Tilson said he was not yet thinking about meeting Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup and stressed he is instead concentrating on trying to improve his side's league standing.
Meanwhile, Preston boss Paul Simpson wasn't too disappointed after his side failed to continue their winning run at the basement club.
"I'm satisfied with a point. Southend put us under a lot of pressure today and we were forced to defend.
"They made life tough for us but at the other end we did not get the supply to our strikers. We started off well but at the end it wasn't going to be our day."