Frustration has been the name of the game for Tottenham this season, yet as they approach its halfway stage, they should be happy with their work.

Tottenham do not spend as much as their main rivals, they lack squad depth and, at different times, have been without their goalkeeper, their best defender, their best midfielder and their best striker. They also tried, unsuccessfully, to get to grips with the Champions League, a competition many of the squad were experiencing for the first time.

Yet, after 16 games, Mauricio Pochettino’s fifth-placed team are only four points behind Arsenal, who are third. When everything is taken into account, it is a pretty impressive effort.

Forget the last campaign. It produced a set of circumstances unlikely to be repeated. When again will we see Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all finish outside the top four, or Manchester City fade so badly? If Spurs came so close, it was due as much to the flaws of others as their own excellence.

Call it cold, call it unromantic, but the front runners this season are there for a reason: they spend huge sums on transfer fees and wages to secure the best players available. In most elite leagues, the picture is exactly the same. Those who commit the most money collect the greatest prizes.

The financial power of Chelsea, United and City, even Arsenal and Liverpool, outstrips that of Tottenham. Of the quintet, only Spurs are trying to remain competitive while managing a £750million stadium project.

Some argue strongly that Tottenham should be bolder with fees and wages, but this is unrealistic. Under these financial circumstances, it is a risk chairman Daniel Levy will not take. Regardless of its merits and defects, he is not going to change that policy. Those who expect significant spending in January should probably not hold their breath.

There is only one club in the top six punching above their weight, and it is Tottenham. Not only is their wage bill considerably lower than those of the other five, their top earners are paid less than those of West Ham and Crystal Palace.

Both those clubs are fighting relegation, while Tottenham try to secure an immediate return to the Champions League. In the last seven seasons, they have never finished outside the top six, and have been in the top four three times. Other clubs crave such consistency.

They would also dream of a home record of played eight, won six, drawn two, lost none. In what should be the last year at White Hart Lane, Tottenham are most inhospitable hosts.

Apart from a brief spell in the first half, and another early in the second, Hull had no answer last night to Spurs, who played a 3-4-2-1 system for the second time this season.

Christian Eriksen’s early goal ensured they led 1-0 at half-time and, after he had been pushed closer to Harry Kane, the Dane scored the second to make the game safe. Eriksen then saw a free-kick pushed on to the post, allowing Victor Wanyama to turn in the rebound.

Danny Rose revealed Spurs had barely worked on the formation — which they also used in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal on November 6 — during the week but, as wing-backs, he and Kyle Walker thrived. Each claimed an assist for Eriksen, while Moussa Sissoko produced a bright display in an advanced role just off Kane.

The England forward was not at his best, however, and neither was Dele Alli, who did not appear best pleased when he was replaced by Harry Winks after 62 minutes. Though Alli has not found the form this season that he did last, the 20-year-old remains a jewel.

The timing of his runs from midfield is as good as anyone’s in the division, as is his understanding of when to make them. One such burst, midway through the first half, allowed Alli to collect a lofted pass from Eric Dier and shoot for goal, forcing David Marshall to make a fine save.

Alli also looked dejected as he left the ground after the match but there were encouraging words from Rose. The defender said: “It is his second season and people aren’t giving him as much time as they did last season, but Dele is still our most dangerous player. It is true that he is not doing as well as last season, but I always tell him that I wish I was where he is.

“Look at how well he has done — and he is still only 20. He is working under the best manager and come the end of the season, the manager will have brought the best from him.”

English football moves at breakneck speed, both on and off the pitch. Sometimes, though, it pays to stand back for a second and realise that whatever the disappointments of this season, Tottenham are still performing pretty well.

