Derby County are currently sitting sixth in the Championship standings after 15 games, and only off the top by four points.

It has been an impressive start to the campaign in the league for managerial novice Frank Lampard, but it is not just in the Championship where the Rams have impressed.

Lampard’s boys have had an impressive League Cup run this season, but that has now come to an end.

Derby pushed Chelsea all the way in last night’s fourth-round tie at Stamford Bridge, narrowly losing out to the Premier League side by three goals to two.

The previous round, meanwhile, was where the Rams caused the biggest shock of the season so far - beating Manchester United at Old Trafford.

It took a last minute goal from the Red Devils to take it to penalties that night with Derby successful before a clash with Chelsea.

David Nugent hit the post in the 89th minute for the visitors last night after Derby had scored two first-half own-goals to twice give the London club the lead.

The Rams rallied back twice to make it a 2-2 game at the break before a scrappy Chelsea winner in the second half sealed their fate.

Despite the cup exit, in two consecutive rounds, Derby have been competitive and been able to go toe-to-toe with two Premier League giants.

So with that, we here at FLW asked our panel of writers if they thought this Derby County side would be competitive in the Premier League with their current squad?

Gary Hutchinson

Possibly, it’s hard to tell; there are so many variables.

If you took any one of the Derby players out of the side, would they get into a current mid-table Premier League team?

Many would, but Keogh? Waghorn? Bryson?

There's a chance after another six months under Lampard the answer is yes, but raising your game for a one-off cup tie and doing it every week are very different prospects indeed.

Jacob Potter

They could be challenging for a top-half finish.

I certainly think they have a starting XI that could challenge in the Premier League but I'm not sure they have the squad depth.

They may need to make additions to their team to compete, but there is no doubting that they have some players that could definitely be playing in the Premier League.

George Harbey

If they kept Mount, Tomori and Wilson, then I don’t see why they couldn’t be a solid lower midtable Premier League team.

Derby have a young, hungry team who have shown so much character this season.

They were unlucky on Wednesday night and could be a really good team for the top flight.